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ACTING PATRIARCH ATESYAN ASKS FOR EQUAL CITIZENSHIP FOR ARMENIANS IN TURKEY
armradio.am
13.03.2012 17:28
Acting Patriarch Aram Atesyan, the religious leader of Turkish
Armenians, asked for equal citizenship for all the Turkish Republic's
citizens, as well as an "embracing" charter, during an appearance in
front of Parliament's Constitution Conciliation Commission yesterday.
Atesyan issued a call for a definition of "constitutional citizenship"
during his presentation.
"There may not be any definition of citizenship in the Constitution.
But if there is to be a definition, then anybody born on the soil of
the Republic of Turkey, or one who has acquired Turkish citizenship,
or one whose parents or father are citizens of the Republic of Turkey,
is a citizen of the Republic of Turkey," Atesyan said, the Hurriyet
Daily News reports.
Atesyan also asked for an arrangement in the new constitution that
would provide "equal citizenship" that would pave the way to the
"right of property" and "equal benefit from state opportunities."
Non-Muslim minorities in Turkey have legal rights based on the 1923
Lausanne Treaty, Atesyan said, adding that they were true children
of the country and did not want to be "treated as foreigners."
Atesyan also demanded that Armenians be allowed to take jobs at state
institutions. He submitted an 11-page proposal for the new constitution
including constitutional guarantees against hate crimes.
Expressing his wish for an "equalitarian, pluralist and liberal"
constitution, he asked that freedom of religion and conscience be
provided.
Asking for the right to form, manage and supervise any kind of
educational institution to train the clergy, Atesyan said the state,
which provides all kinds of support for public schools, should also
support non-profit minority schools that are also doing a public
service.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, AteÅ~_yan said: "The
constitution actually should be like a mother [a reference
to the Turkish word for constitution which starts with 'ana'
(mother). It should be like a mother who is warm, embracing, merciful,
conscientious, one that does not discriminate among her children, one
that keeps the same distance from all her children. The Constitution
should serve this purpose. We believe this constitution will serve
this propose."
armradio.am
13.03.2012 17:28
Acting Patriarch Aram Atesyan, the religious leader of Turkish
Armenians, asked for equal citizenship for all the Turkish Republic's
citizens, as well as an "embracing" charter, during an appearance in
front of Parliament's Constitution Conciliation Commission yesterday.
Atesyan issued a call for a definition of "constitutional citizenship"
during his presentation.
"There may not be any definition of citizenship in the Constitution.
But if there is to be a definition, then anybody born on the soil of
the Republic of Turkey, or one who has acquired Turkish citizenship,
or one whose parents or father are citizens of the Republic of Turkey,
is a citizen of the Republic of Turkey," Atesyan said, the Hurriyet
Daily News reports.
Atesyan also asked for an arrangement in the new constitution that
would provide "equal citizenship" that would pave the way to the
"right of property" and "equal benefit from state opportunities."
Non-Muslim minorities in Turkey have legal rights based on the 1923
Lausanne Treaty, Atesyan said, adding that they were true children
of the country and did not want to be "treated as foreigners."
Atesyan also demanded that Armenians be allowed to take jobs at state
institutions. He submitted an 11-page proposal for the new constitution
including constitutional guarantees against hate crimes.
Expressing his wish for an "equalitarian, pluralist and liberal"
constitution, he asked that freedom of religion and conscience be
provided.
Asking for the right to form, manage and supervise any kind of
educational institution to train the clergy, Atesyan said the state,
which provides all kinds of support for public schools, should also
support non-profit minority schools that are also doing a public
service.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, AteÅ~_yan said: "The
constitution actually should be like a mother [a reference
to the Turkish word for constitution which starts with 'ana'
(mother). It should be like a mother who is warm, embracing, merciful,
conscientious, one that does not discriminate among her children, one
that keeps the same distance from all her children. The Constitution
should serve this purpose. We believe this constitution will serve
this propose."