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CHILDREN'S EDUCATION MAIN WORRY FOR ARMENIAN MIGRANTS
Hurriyet
Feb 17 2010
Turkey
With the number of illegal Armenian workers in Turkey often exaggerated
by officials for political gain, the most pressing problem for the
community remains educating its children, who are not permitted to
study at either Turkish public schools or institutions run by local
Armenians. At present, there are somewhere between 6,000 and 70,000
Armenians illegally residing in Turkey
Obscured by debates about the numbers of illegal Armenian migrants in
Turkey that are rooted more in fiction than fact, the community is most
preoccupied with educating its children, according to a recent study.
The conclusions regarding the migrant community - which is estimated
at anywhere between 6,000 and 70,000 people - were announced at a
press conference Monday by Alin Ozinian, who headed the report for
the Eurasia Partnership Foundation.
In addition to concerns over education, Ozinian said one of the
primary goals of the study, which was conducted in Istanbul, Ä°zmir,
Antalya and Trabzon, was to determine the actual number of Armenian
citizens living in Turkey.
Immigration from Armenia began following independence in 1991 and
increased especially between 2002 and 2007.
The presence of illegal Armenian workers in the country first attracted
attention in 2000 when opposition leader Tansu Ciller said 30,000
should be deported if the United States officially recognizes Armenian
genocide claims.
In 2005, then-Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said there were 40,000
Armenian workers in the country. One year later, Justice and
Development Party, or AKP, deputy YaÅ~_ar YakıÅ~_ said there were
70,000 illegal Armenians in Turkey and encouraged their expulsion
due to pressure from the Armenian diaspora.
In recent times, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said there
were 170,000 Armenians living in Turkey, 70,000 of who were legal
residents. "Most probably, the prime minister was talking about the
Turkish Armenian community in Turkey when he was referring to those
with legal status," said Ozinian.
State officials have been unable to determine the actual number
of Armenian citizens in the country, said Ozinian. "I find their
explanation for the absence of correct numbers acceptable - after all,
you can't have accurate figures about illegal migration."
Subtracting the number of Armenians departing from those arriving,
Ozinian said there are at least 6,000 Armenian citizens in the country,
adding that the maximum was 10,000.
A journalist from the weekly Agos, meanwhile, estimated the number
at between 12,000 and 14,000 based on Ministry of Labor statistics.
Ultimately, however, Ozinian said the research's main goal was to
expose social and legal problems facing Armenian migrants, adding that
providing education to an estimated 800 children was the community's
most pressing worry.
Turkish schools, including ones run by the country's native Armenian
community, only admit the children of legally resident guardians,
meaning the children of illegal Armenian workers are prevented from
attending classes.
Children born in Turkey to illegal Armenian parents are typically
left in legal limbo as they can neither receive Turkish citizenship
nor acquire an Armenian passport when the parents are forced to
stay in Turkey for fear of being refused re-entry should they return
to Armenia.
As a result, most of the children spend their time playing on the
streets and often become involved in crime. Although older Armenians
attempt to provide the children some education in clandestine schools,
the education is largely rudimentary.
Ozinian said the Armenian Patriarchate has proposed a solution to
the government but details remain vague.
The study also indicated the considerable fear many Armenians had
before coming to Turkey, but that the mistrust changed drastically
after arrival.
The report said 94 percent of the workers are women, with the majority
involved in domestic cleaning work.
Despite the presence of many illegal Russian and Moldovan workers,
Turkish families typically prefer Armenians because of cultural
similarities, the research said.
Political problems between the two countries, however, often strain
relationships between Turkish employers and Armenian workers. One
38-year-old female worker said: "My Turkish boss criticizes me for
the politics between Armenia and Turkey. He always says: 'We give you
people jobs and money, but you are always ungrateful. You are talking
about the genocide all the time.' I feel very bad. I curse my fate."
According to Ozinian, however, the majority of people are indifferent
to politics due to preoccupation with economic survival.
Relationship with Turkish Armenians
The research further said the relationship between Armenian migrants
and native Turkish Armenians is complicated. Local Armenians, who
total roughly 60,000, could potentially provide jobs to the migrants
but their relations are often complicated because of cultural and
class differences.
Illustrating this point, a 46-year-old woman identified only by her
initials A.B., said: "Native Armenians are an entirely different
subject. Everyone thinks we have solidarity, but there's none. They
look down on us. In their opinion, we are peasants and we know
nothing."
Hurriyet
Feb 17 2010
Turkey
With the number of illegal Armenian workers in Turkey often exaggerated
by officials for political gain, the most pressing problem for the
community remains educating its children, who are not permitted to
study at either Turkish public schools or institutions run by local
Armenians. At present, there are somewhere between 6,000 and 70,000
Armenians illegally residing in Turkey
Obscured by debates about the numbers of illegal Armenian migrants in
Turkey that are rooted more in fiction than fact, the community is most
preoccupied with educating its children, according to a recent study.
The conclusions regarding the migrant community - which is estimated
at anywhere between 6,000 and 70,000 people - were announced at a
press conference Monday by Alin Ozinian, who headed the report for
the Eurasia Partnership Foundation.
In addition to concerns over education, Ozinian said one of the
primary goals of the study, which was conducted in Istanbul, Ä°zmir,
Antalya and Trabzon, was to determine the actual number of Armenian
citizens living in Turkey.
Immigration from Armenia began following independence in 1991 and
increased especially between 2002 and 2007.
The presence of illegal Armenian workers in the country first attracted
attention in 2000 when opposition leader Tansu Ciller said 30,000
should be deported if the United States officially recognizes Armenian
genocide claims.
In 2005, then-Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said there were 40,000
Armenian workers in the country. One year later, Justice and
Development Party, or AKP, deputy YaÅ~_ar YakıÅ~_ said there were
70,000 illegal Armenians in Turkey and encouraged their expulsion
due to pressure from the Armenian diaspora.
In recent times, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said there
were 170,000 Armenians living in Turkey, 70,000 of who were legal
residents. "Most probably, the prime minister was talking about the
Turkish Armenian community in Turkey when he was referring to those
with legal status," said Ozinian.
State officials have been unable to determine the actual number
of Armenian citizens in the country, said Ozinian. "I find their
explanation for the absence of correct numbers acceptable - after all,
you can't have accurate figures about illegal migration."
Subtracting the number of Armenians departing from those arriving,
Ozinian said there are at least 6,000 Armenian citizens in the country,
adding that the maximum was 10,000.
A journalist from the weekly Agos, meanwhile, estimated the number
at between 12,000 and 14,000 based on Ministry of Labor statistics.
Ultimately, however, Ozinian said the research's main goal was to
expose social and legal problems facing Armenian migrants, adding that
providing education to an estimated 800 children was the community's
most pressing worry.
Turkish schools, including ones run by the country's native Armenian
community, only admit the children of legally resident guardians,
meaning the children of illegal Armenian workers are prevented from
attending classes.
Children born in Turkey to illegal Armenian parents are typically
left in legal limbo as they can neither receive Turkish citizenship
nor acquire an Armenian passport when the parents are forced to
stay in Turkey for fear of being refused re-entry should they return
to Armenia.
As a result, most of the children spend their time playing on the
streets and often become involved in crime. Although older Armenians
attempt to provide the children some education in clandestine schools,
the education is largely rudimentary.
Ozinian said the Armenian Patriarchate has proposed a solution to
the government but details remain vague.
The study also indicated the considerable fear many Armenians had
before coming to Turkey, but that the mistrust changed drastically
after arrival.
The report said 94 percent of the workers are women, with the majority
involved in domestic cleaning work.
Despite the presence of many illegal Russian and Moldovan workers,
Turkish families typically prefer Armenians because of cultural
similarities, the research said.
Political problems between the two countries, however, often strain
relationships between Turkish employers and Armenian workers. One
38-year-old female worker said: "My Turkish boss criticizes me for
the politics between Armenia and Turkey. He always says: 'We give you
people jobs and money, but you are always ungrateful. You are talking
about the genocide all the time.' I feel very bad. I curse my fate."
According to Ozinian, however, the majority of people are indifferent
to politics due to preoccupation with economic survival.
Relationship with Turkish Armenians
The research further said the relationship between Armenian migrants
and native Turkish Armenians is complicated. Local Armenians, who
total roughly 60,000, could potentially provide jobs to the migrants
but their relations are often complicated because of cultural and
class differences.
Illustrating this point, a 46-year-old woman identified only by her
initials A.B., said: "Native Armenians are an entirely different
subject. Everyone thinks we have solidarity, but there's none. They
look down on us. In their opinion, we are peasants and we know
nothing."