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TURKISH-ARMENIANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN OPEN BORDER
Tert
Sept 17 2009
Armenia
In speaking with Tert.am's correspondents recently, representatives
of the Armenian community in Turkey state that the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border would be a positive step for the community.
People from all walks of life -- lawyers, journalists, businessmen --
echoed this opinion. Tert.am's correspondents, while in Istanbul,
attempted to investigate, in particular, what would the benefits be
for the Armenian community if the border were to open.
All those whom Tert.am correspondents spoke to were in favour of
developing Armenian-Turkish relations and for the border opening. An
open border could provide a range of benefits to Istanbul's Armenian
community: the community would be able to preserve itself and further
its development.
Today the Armenian community in Istanbul has challenges. Basic
statistics show this. Though Armenian churches and schools have played
and still play a serious role in Istanbul, their number has reduced
in the past few years. For instance, about ten years ago, the number
of children studying in Armenian schools was 4,500, while this year
that number has dropped to 3,092. There is an issue of textbooks in
the schools, they are old, and quite possibly, it is difficult to
print new textbooks, though the Turkish government has already agreed
to finance the project.
It's only natural that more and more Turkish citizens of Armenian
descent prefer to send their children to Turkish schools: this way,
the children can integrate more quickly into society.
In the case of an open border, parents who left Armenia for Turkey
and who currently have no legal status would be able to send their
children to Armenian schools. Currently, however, the absence of legal
status prohibits those children from attending school. For example,
one eleven-year-old girl, whose parents came to Istanbul ten years
ago, has never attended school. She is literate in neither Armenian
nor Turkish. This child has no future in Turkey, though returning to
Armenia is not really an option either.
During his life, Hrant Dink raised this concern. Today, the Turkish
paper Agos continues to write about it. They call upon the Armenian
community to exercise pressure on the Turkish government so that
it will allow immigrant children from Armenia to attend classes in
Armenian schools at least informally -- to at least sit in on the
classes. For now, it is difficult for the community to raise this
issue, since there are many other challenges.
Turkish-Armenians mention that establishing diplomatic relations will
change the situation greatly; in particular, many Armenians will gain
legal status, their children will attend Armenian schools, and they
will be able to participate in the community to the fullest extent.
Tert
Sept 17 2009
Armenia
In speaking with Tert.am's correspondents recently, representatives
of the Armenian community in Turkey state that the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border would be a positive step for the community.
People from all walks of life -- lawyers, journalists, businessmen --
echoed this opinion. Tert.am's correspondents, while in Istanbul,
attempted to investigate, in particular, what would the benefits be
for the Armenian community if the border were to open.
All those whom Tert.am correspondents spoke to were in favour of
developing Armenian-Turkish relations and for the border opening. An
open border could provide a range of benefits to Istanbul's Armenian
community: the community would be able to preserve itself and further
its development.
Today the Armenian community in Istanbul has challenges. Basic
statistics show this. Though Armenian churches and schools have played
and still play a serious role in Istanbul, their number has reduced
in the past few years. For instance, about ten years ago, the number
of children studying in Armenian schools was 4,500, while this year
that number has dropped to 3,092. There is an issue of textbooks in
the schools, they are old, and quite possibly, it is difficult to
print new textbooks, though the Turkish government has already agreed
to finance the project.
It's only natural that more and more Turkish citizens of Armenian
descent prefer to send their children to Turkish schools: this way,
the children can integrate more quickly into society.
In the case of an open border, parents who left Armenia for Turkey
and who currently have no legal status would be able to send their
children to Armenian schools. Currently, however, the absence of legal
status prohibits those children from attending school. For example,
one eleven-year-old girl, whose parents came to Istanbul ten years
ago, has never attended school. She is literate in neither Armenian
nor Turkish. This child has no future in Turkey, though returning to
Armenia is not really an option either.
During his life, Hrant Dink raised this concern. Today, the Turkish
paper Agos continues to write about it. They call upon the Armenian
community to exercise pressure on the Turkish government so that
it will allow immigrant children from Armenia to attend classes in
Armenian schools at least informally -- to at least sit in on the
classes. For now, it is difficult for the community to raise this
issue, since there are many other challenges.
Turkish-Armenians mention that establishing diplomatic relations will
change the situation greatly; in particular, many Armenians will gain
legal status, their children will attend Armenian schools, and they
will be able to participate in the community to the fullest extent.