Tweet
ATESYAN WANTS NEUTRAL DEFINITION OF CITIZENSHIP IN NEW CONSTITUTION
Today's Zaman
March 13 2012
Turkey
Armenian Deputy Patriarch Archbishop Aram AteÅ~_yan, who visited the
parliamentary sub-committee working on drafting a new constitution
for Turkey on Monday, said the Armenian community would like to see
a new constitution with no reference to ethnicity in its definition
of citizenship, unlike the Ecumenical Greek Orthodox Patriarch
Bartholomew, who said that he had no problem being called a Turk
during his visit to the commission earlier.
During his visit to the parliamentary Constitutional Reconciliation
Sub-committee, AteÅ~_yan said that the purpose of his visit was
to present his views as an individual, as well as the demands of
Armenian society. "We want a constitution like a mother. Embracing,
compassionate and conscientious, like a mother who doesn't discriminate
among her children," he told the commission's members.
The commission has been hearing the views of different civil society
groups, and AteÅ~_yan's one-hour visit was part of the meetings with
civil society representatives. AteÅ~_yan spoke to journalists after
his meeting with commission members, where he noted that this was the
first time in the history of the Turkish Republic that an Armenian
patriarch was visiting Parliament.
He noted that the demands he voiced concerned all segments of society.
Noting that the constitution should serve all equally, he said: "We
believe that [the new] constitution will serve this cause. Ninety-five
percent of the demands we presented are the same as every other
segment's. The small differences are about the issues that concern us
as a minority group. After this, it's all up to the committee and the
higher commission; they will work and draft the new constitution. I
wish them success. Anyone who has an identity [card] issued by the
Republic of Turkey and a citizenship number is a citizen of the
Republic of Turkey. It is this simple. There is no need to dwell on
or emphasize ethnic backgrounds."
AteÅ~_yan proposed leaving out a definition of citizenship altogether
to avoid controversy, or, alternatively, defining citizenship as such,
"Anyone who was born within the borders the Republic of Turkey, has
citizenship through their parents, or later acquired citizenship,
is a Turkish citizen."
The proposals AteÅ~_yan introduced emphasized freedoms of speech,
expression and religion. He also said that members of minority groups
did not want privileges but, rather, equal citizenship. The proposals
also emphasize that the state should respect religious pluralism and
stand at an equal distance to all religions, as well as be completely
impartial.
The Armenian community also wants minority schools to be supported
by the state, saying that these schools should be given equal access
to public funds for education.
AteÅ~_yan's views on citizenship differ from those expressed by
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in February. During his visit to
the commission, Bartholomew also demanded equal citizenship rights
but proposed a more ethnic definition of Turkishness, "Anybody who is
tied to the Republic of Turkey through citizenship is a Turk." Often,
minority groups in Turkey, both Muslim and non-Muslim, advise against
using words that describe a particular ethnic group.
Today's Zaman
March 13 2012
Turkey
Armenian Deputy Patriarch Archbishop Aram AteÅ~_yan, who visited the
parliamentary sub-committee working on drafting a new constitution
for Turkey on Monday, said the Armenian community would like to see
a new constitution with no reference to ethnicity in its definition
of citizenship, unlike the Ecumenical Greek Orthodox Patriarch
Bartholomew, who said that he had no problem being called a Turk
during his visit to the commission earlier.
During his visit to the parliamentary Constitutional Reconciliation
Sub-committee, AteÅ~_yan said that the purpose of his visit was
to present his views as an individual, as well as the demands of
Armenian society. "We want a constitution like a mother. Embracing,
compassionate and conscientious, like a mother who doesn't discriminate
among her children," he told the commission's members.
The commission has been hearing the views of different civil society
groups, and AteÅ~_yan's one-hour visit was part of the meetings with
civil society representatives. AteÅ~_yan spoke to journalists after
his meeting with commission members, where he noted that this was the
first time in the history of the Turkish Republic that an Armenian
patriarch was visiting Parliament.
He noted that the demands he voiced concerned all segments of society.
Noting that the constitution should serve all equally, he said: "We
believe that [the new] constitution will serve this cause. Ninety-five
percent of the demands we presented are the same as every other
segment's. The small differences are about the issues that concern us
as a minority group. After this, it's all up to the committee and the
higher commission; they will work and draft the new constitution. I
wish them success. Anyone who has an identity [card] issued by the
Republic of Turkey and a citizenship number is a citizen of the
Republic of Turkey. It is this simple. There is no need to dwell on
or emphasize ethnic backgrounds."
AteÅ~_yan proposed leaving out a definition of citizenship altogether
to avoid controversy, or, alternatively, defining citizenship as such,
"Anyone who was born within the borders the Republic of Turkey, has
citizenship through their parents, or later acquired citizenship,
is a Turkish citizen."
The proposals AteÅ~_yan introduced emphasized freedoms of speech,
expression and religion. He also said that members of minority groups
did not want privileges but, rather, equal citizenship. The proposals
also emphasize that the state should respect religious pluralism and
stand at an equal distance to all religions, as well as be completely
impartial.
The Armenian community also wants minority schools to be supported
by the state, saying that these schools should be given equal access
to public funds for education.
AteÅ~_yan's views on citizenship differ from those expressed by
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in February. During his visit to
the commission, Bartholomew also demanded equal citizenship rights
but proposed a more ethnic definition of Turkishness, "Anybody who is
tied to the Republic of Turkey through citizenship is a Turk." Often,
minority groups in Turkey, both Muslim and non-Muslim, advise against
using words that describe a particular ethnic group.