Diaspora's main problem is maintenance of Armenian language

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian community of Istanbul tries to resolve problems both on state and community levels, Ara Kochunyan, editor-in-chief of Zhamanak Istanbul-based Armenian-language newspaper, said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net



"We have a hospital and a school under the aegis of the Constantinople Patriarchate. The EU urged Turkey to return constructions belonging to national minorities. We are allowed to build and reconstruct houses and churches. In two or three years we will have new houses. Life in a community helps to preserve faith, tradition and language," he said.



The main problem is maintenance of the Armenian language, according to him.



"An entire generation can hardly understand and speak Armenian. That is why most of the newspapers are bilingual. Asbarez newspaper has been an exception until recently but now it's published in three languages: Armenian, English and Spanish. Otherwise, no one will buy Armenian press. During 100 years of existence, our newspaper didn't lose readers. We present various viewpoints about the events taking place in Armenia and Diaspora," Kochunyan said.



The Armenian community of Istanbul numbers 60-70 people. Some 40 churches throughout Turkey are under the authority of the AAC Constantinople Patriarchate.

Full text of the interview