Tweet
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Nov 23 2012
Turkey's only Armenian village risks losing status
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
by Vercihan ZiflioÄ?lu
A recent draft law on restructuring municipality borders will affect
the special status of Turkey's only Armenian-populated village.
Located in the southern province of Hatay, Vakıflı, which consists of
135 residents, will lose its `special' status with the new law.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News, Vakıflı community head Cem Çapar
said the survival of the village was very important both for them and
Turkey's image. `We hope our rights will be preserved in accordance
with the law,' Çapar said.
`The new law proposes villages in the new metropolitan municipalities
be turned into districts. This means Vakıflı will lose its village
status, so we will no longer be the only Armenian village of Turkey.
We conveyed this subject to Hatay Governor Celalettin Lekesiz, with
Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin also present,' Çapar said.
Annexed to Turkey
Following a transitional political period that formally existed from
1938 to 1939, Hatay was annexed to Turkey in a 1939 referendum.
`Hatay joined Turkey in 1939. During that time, a law preventing
foreigners from entering Vakıflı came into force. We would be very
pleased if Vakıflı was protected with a similar law today. Otherwise,
the village will not survive very long. It would disappear just like
many Armenian villages and neighborhoods that faded away in Anatolia.
It would also affect us economically as our gardens and vineyards will
be taken away,' Çapar said.
The Hatay Governor's speaker, Raif HarputoÄ?lu, told the Hürriyet Daily
News there were no restrictions on non-Armenian people who want to
reside in the village. `No restriction is made in regard to
residence, anyone could settle there as they wish. But so far such an
initiative has not been made. Vakıflı is an important village, since
it is a village of tolerance, despite all the crises between Turkey
and Armenia.'
November/23/2012
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkeys-only-armenian-village-risks-losing-status.aspx?pageID=238&nID=35281&NewsCatID=339
Nov 23 2012
Turkey's only Armenian village risks losing status
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
by Vercihan ZiflioÄ?lu
A recent draft law on restructuring municipality borders will affect
the special status of Turkey's only Armenian-populated village.
Located in the southern province of Hatay, Vakıflı, which consists of
135 residents, will lose its `special' status with the new law.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News, Vakıflı community head Cem Çapar
said the survival of the village was very important both for them and
Turkey's image. `We hope our rights will be preserved in accordance
with the law,' Çapar said.
`The new law proposes villages in the new metropolitan municipalities
be turned into districts. This means Vakıflı will lose its village
status, so we will no longer be the only Armenian village of Turkey.
We conveyed this subject to Hatay Governor Celalettin Lekesiz, with
Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin also present,' Çapar said.
Annexed to Turkey
Following a transitional political period that formally existed from
1938 to 1939, Hatay was annexed to Turkey in a 1939 referendum.
`Hatay joined Turkey in 1939. During that time, a law preventing
foreigners from entering Vakıflı came into force. We would be very
pleased if Vakıflı was protected with a similar law today. Otherwise,
the village will not survive very long. It would disappear just like
many Armenian villages and neighborhoods that faded away in Anatolia.
It would also affect us economically as our gardens and vineyards will
be taken away,' Çapar said.
The Hatay Governor's speaker, Raif HarputoÄ?lu, told the Hürriyet Daily
News there were no restrictions on non-Armenian people who want to
reside in the village. `No restriction is made in regard to
residence, anyone could settle there as they wish. But so far such an
initiative has not been made. Vakıflı is an important village, since
it is a village of tolerance, despite all the crises between Turkey
and Armenia.'
November/23/2012
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkeys-only-armenian-village-risks-losing-status.aspx?pageID=238&nID=35281&NewsCatID=339