Return of "hidden Armenians" to their identity to contribute to Armenia's prosperity
The return of Turkey's "hidden Armenians" to their identity will contribute not only to opening border and normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties, but also Armenia's prosperity, YSU Armenian Studies Centre representative Kate Gundakchyan told a news conference in Yerevan, answering a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter's question.
"When I asked Hamshen Armenians whether they wanted to return to their homeland they said their homeland was Western Armenia. Unfortunately, there are currently no precise data about the number of Islamized Armenians and I can't say how many of them convert to Christianity," she said.
"According to AAC Patriarchate of Istanbul, the town alone has 60-70 thousand Armenian population as of September 2008. Besides, there are 30-40 thousand Armenians who recently moved to Istanbul," Kate Gundakchyan noted.
According to her, there are about 36 Armenian churches operating in Turkey, but there is a lack of Armenian clergymen. "Turkish Government does not allow non-Turkish citizen to enter into clergy service in Armenian churches," she said.
With regard to the relationship between Istanbul Armenians and those who have recently moved, she said the latter are easily integrated to "old settlers". "But the whole problem is that Armenians who have recently moved to Turkey do not know the Turkish language. They are unaware of their rights and duties and often stay there longer than allowed. And Turkish authorities do not banish them from the country. The goal is to prove to the world that Turks allow about 40 thousand Armenians to work in their country," Kate Gundakchyan stressed.
"When I asked Hamshen Armenians whether they wanted to return to their homeland they said their homeland was Western Armenia. Unfortunately, there are currently no precise data about the number of Islamized Armenians and I can't say how many of them convert to Christianity," she said.
"According to AAC Patriarchate of Istanbul, the town alone has 60-70 thousand Armenian population as of September 2008. Besides, there are 30-40 thousand Armenians who recently moved to Istanbul," Kate Gundakchyan noted.
According to her, there are about 36 Armenian churches operating in Turkey, but there is a lack of Armenian clergymen. "Turkish Government does not allow non-Turkish citizen to enter into clergy service in Armenian churches," she said.
With regard to the relationship between Istanbul Armenians and those who have recently moved, she said the latter are easily integrated to "old settlers". "But the whole problem is that Armenians who have recently moved to Turkey do not know the Turkish language. They are unaware of their rights and duties and often stay there longer than allowed. And Turkish authorities do not banish them from the country. The goal is to prove to the world that Turks allow about 40 thousand Armenians to work in their country," Kate Gundakchyan stressed.
