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Turkey's only Armenian village risks losing status
http://www.armradio.am/en/2012/11/23/turkeys-only-armenian-village-risks-losing-status/
13:10 23.11.2012
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
Ã=87apar 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,' Ã=87apar 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,' Ã=87apar said.
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,' Ã=87apar said.
The Hatay Governor's speaker, Raif HarputoÄ=9Flu, 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.'
http://www.armradio.am/en/2012/11/23/turkeys-only-armenian-village-risks-losing-status/
http://www.armradio.am/en/2012/11/23/turkeys-only-armenian-village-risks-losing-status/
13:10 23.11.2012
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
Ã=87apar 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,' Ã=87apar 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,' Ã=87apar said.
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,' Ã=87apar said.
The Hatay Governor's speaker, Raif HarputoÄ=9Flu, 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.'
http://www.armradio.am/en/2012/11/23/turkeys-only-armenian-village-risks-losing-status/