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ARMENIANS ASK FOR EQUAL CITIZENSHIP IN NEW CHARTER
Hurriyet
March 13 2012
Turkey
Acting Armenian Patriarch Aram AteÅ~_yan joins a meeting in Parliament.
Acting Patriarch Aram AteÅ~_yan, 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.
AteÅ~_yan issued a call for a definition of "constitutional
citizenship" during his presentation. His definition was reportedly
different from the Greek Patriarchate, which had asked for citizenship
under the definition of Turkishness.
"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," AteÅ~_yan said.
Demand for property rights
AteÅ~_yan 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, AteÅ~_yan said, adding that they were true children
of the country and did not want to be "treated as foreigners."
AteÅ~_yan also demanded that Armenians be allowed to take jobs at
state institutions.
AteÅ~_yan 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.
'We want to train the clergy'
Asking for the right to form, manage and supervise any kind
of educational institution to train the clergy, AteÅ~_yan 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." k HDN March/13/2012
Hurriyet
March 13 2012
Turkey
Acting Armenian Patriarch Aram AteÅ~_yan joins a meeting in Parliament.
Acting Patriarch Aram AteÅ~_yan, 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.
AteÅ~_yan issued a call for a definition of "constitutional
citizenship" during his presentation. His definition was reportedly
different from the Greek Patriarchate, which had asked for citizenship
under the definition of Turkishness.
"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," AteÅ~_yan said.
Demand for property rights
AteÅ~_yan 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, AteÅ~_yan said, adding that they were true children
of the country and did not want to be "treated as foreigners."
AteÅ~_yan also demanded that Armenians be allowed to take jobs at
state institutions.
AteÅ~_yan 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.
'We want to train the clergy'
Asking for the right to form, manage and supervise any kind
of educational institution to train the clergy, AteÅ~_yan 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." k HDN March/13/2012