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Today's Zaman, Turkey
Jan 5 2014
Being an Armenian in the capital of the bureaucracy (1)
5 January 2014 /EMİNE DOLMACI, ANKARA
The following sentence summarizes well what Turkish-Armenians living
in Ankara went through: "Ankara is the capital, the heart of the state
and bureaucracy. You have to act in a more controlled manner in Ankara
if you are an Armenian." Turkish-Armenians in Ankara spend their
entire lives without learning their language, practicing their
religion or using Armenian names.
Within the scope of its oral history project, the Hrant Dink
Foundation, named after the Turkish-Armenian journalist who was killed
by an ultranationalist teenager in front of the office of the Agos
weekly in İstanbul in 2007, has completed a book on Turkish-Armenians
in Ankara after two previous books titled "Sounds of Silence,
Armenians of Turkey Speak" (Sessizliğin Sesi, Türkiyeli Ermeniler
Konuşuyor) and "Sounds of Silence 2, Armenians of Diyarbakır Speak"
(Sessizliğin Sesi 2, Diyarbakırlı Ermeniler Konuşuyor). The
foundation's new book, titled, "Sounds of Silence 3, Armenians of
Ankara Speak" (Sessizliğin Sesi 2, Ankaralı Ermeniler Konuşuyor) sheds
light on Turkish-Armenians' socio-cultural lives in Ankara. According
to the research of Raymond Kevorkian, a French historian of Armenian
descent, the population of Turkish-Armenians in Ankara, which was
11,246 in 1914, has dropped to around 300 in the present day.
Turkish-Armenians in Ankara, who used to work in the textile sector in
the past, want to become public servants, but they can only work as
contract personnel in public institutions. The majority of them cannot
speak Armenian, and they have already become accustomed to mixed
marriages, which they avoided in the past. They either have a Turkish
name in addition to their Armenian names or only a Turkish name. The
following sentence summarizes well what Turkish-Armenians living in
Ankara went though: "Ankara is the capital, the heart of the state and
bureaucracy. You have to act in a more controlled manner in Ankara if
you are an Armenian." One Turkish-Armenian, who has served as
principal clerk for the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality for a long
time and asked to remain anonymous, also said, "As a Turkish-Armenian,
you can have only limited space within the system." Among the
Turkish-Armenians who live in Ankara's Yenikent district, which used
to be an Armenian village called Istanoz, as well as Ulus and the
neighborhoods close to Ankara Castle, young Armenians usually avoided
disclosing their identity when interviewed by the foundation. A young
Turkish-Armenian expressed his concern about disclosing his identity,
saying that he had applied to a public institution for a job and he
was afraid of being rejected if his Armenian identity was revealed.
Although Turkish-Armenians in Ankara are much more silent that
Turkish-Armenians in İstanbul and other cities, they are now
expressing themselves more freely. They want to live as first-class
citizens of this country. Ferda Balancar, who directed the group that
conducted these interviews with Turkish-Armenians in Ankara, gave an
interview to Today's Zaman.
In order to overcome traumas, we need to talk about them
What is the purpose of the oral history project that you conducted
with Turkish-Armenians in Ankara?
The aim of this project is to find traces of the political and
cultural memory of Armenians living both in Turkey and other parts of
the world and understanding how Armenians perceive themselves and "the
others." In this way the project aims to reflect the Turkish-Armenian
reality, with its political, cultural and historical aspects.
How do the people that you interviewed define their identity in their
daily lives?
Many of them prefer to hide their Armenian identities, and the most
common practice to ensure this is using a Turkish name or giving their
children Turkish names.
They place great emphasis on the concept of being of or from Turkey
rather than on sect or ethnicity. What do you think is the reason for
this?
This is related to the democratization process and the liberalization
of identities that Turkey had gone through in the last 10 years. The
constitutional common denominator of different ethnic and religious
groups living in Turkey can be the concept of being of or from Turkey,
as seen in the draft of the new constitution. The Turkish-Armenians
that we interviewed also underlined this.
Have they overcome the traumas of the past, or did they just sweep
their feelings under the rug?
They have not overcome the traumas of the past; they have just swept
everything under the rug. In order to overcome these traumas, we need
to openly discuss them. Without this, it is impossible to overcome the
traumas.
What they demand in order to confront the past?
First of all, they demand a sincere and heart-felted apology. They
want to Turkish people to understand the sorrows Armenians are going
through not only during the 1915 incidents but also during the
nation-state process without blaming each others.
What are their expectations from the future compared to other Turkish citizens?
In fact, they do not have different demands. They want or live in a
democratic country that respects human rights. They think they would
have a more comfortable and happy life in such a country.
Considering the current development level of development of the
country in terms of human rights and freedoms, do they feel in secure?
They are also aware of the fact that Turkey has made a great progress
in terms of fundamental rights and freedoms in the recent years, but
they do not feel in secure. Because they are concerned that everything
may be reversed.
One of Armenians that you interviewed indicated the declining
population of Armenians in Turkey and said "We are only few people,
what will happen 70 years later?" Do you have an answer for this
question?
Armenian population in Turkey is about 70,000 or 80,000. If they
continue to have mixed marriages and migrate to abroad, there would
not be an Armenian community 50 years later.
Witness 1
I never like the sense of belonging
I would have gone both the Political Science Faculty (SBF), School of
Press and Broadcasting of Ankara University. I did not want to go to
Political Science Faculty because I think that I would never be an
ambassador, governor or bureaucrat because of my Armenian identity. If
you are an Armenian, the system allocates a very small room for you.
In 1968 when the street skirmishes between rightist and leftist groups
were fueled, I went to School of Press and Broadcasting of Ankara
University. I never involve in the clashes between rightist and
leftist groups, because for the both sides, I was the man who is
irrelevant. And no one wanted to lure me to their sides. I never like
the sense of belonging. I have never developed a sense of belonging to
any group.
Witness 2
Hrant Dink was expressing my feelings
Hrant Dink wanted to live as a Turkish-Armenian and serve his country.
He was expressing my feelings as well. Hrant Dink has a huge influence
on me. On the day when I learned that he later died, I was ruined.
Will I be Turk when I say I am a Turk? A person cannot change their
ethnicity, but I am a good person from Turkey. I carried Turkish flag,
red poem on Turkish national days. I get emotional when I heard our
national anthem, or see our flag. But do not want to see Flags and
Atatürk posters at everywhere. I am ready to do, and already doing my
best to unite at common denominator of being form Turkey and work the
for the sake of this country.
Witness 3
I want to live as the first-class citizens of this country.
My uncle felt in love with a Greek girl, They ran away together and
settled in the US. They had 5 daughters. He opened a tailor's shop and
he was earning good money. They had a good life. Both my uncle and his
wife passed away 5 or 6 years age. Although he had good life, he
always used to say: "I wish hadn't left my country." He went to the
US, and had a more comfortable life, but he always longed for these
land. I do not want to be like my uncle. I want to live in this
country as a first-class and equal citizen.
Witness 4
I teach Turkish to my grandchildren in Austria
When I was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria,
secretary-general of the party asked me if I have been oppressed while
living in Turkey because of the Armenian ethnicity. This was the first
time when I understand what discrimination is. I told I have never
been discriminated which was the truth. I am an Armenian but I am from
Turkey. I love our country. Although I live in Austria since 1979, I
follow every development in Turkey, and I teach Turkish to my
grandchildren in Austria.
Witness 5
An era has ended and a new era has started.
What has changed, so that we can discuss the Armenian issue more
freely? I believe, the coup cases have put an end to an era and
started a new one. Negotiation is required while trying to do
something. For example, while talking about re-opening of the Halki
Seminary on the island of Heybeliada near İstanbul, the issue of
re-opening of Turkish mosques in Greece should not be ignored.
Allowing one time a year worship at the Cathedral Church of the Holy
Cross, in the Akdamar island in Lake Van is a symbolic but very
important and positive move. There are very positive developments ,
and you cannot ignore them.
Witness 6
Since the Armenians have gone, the prosperity has been gone too
In the recent year, the 1915 incidents and the sorrows Armenians that
have gone through is being discussed. Unlike the past, he media also
extensively cover this issue. However, extensively discussing these
issues has both positive and negative impacts. It is not good thing to
twist the knife in that wound. I am cautious about this issue. Look at
what happened to Hrant Dink. He was working for the sake of this
country. He wanted to introduce peace between Turks and Armenians. I
do not understand why the people of this country have gone through
great pains. The both side have suffered. There is a proverb in
Anatolia saying: "Since the Armenians have gone, the prosperity has
been gone too," but the number of people who think killing of
Armenians or forcing them to migrate was a good thing is not small.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-335841-being-an-armenian-in-the-capital-of-the-bureaucracy-1.html
From: A. Papazian
Jan 5 2014
Being an Armenian in the capital of the bureaucracy (1)
5 January 2014 /EMİNE DOLMACI, ANKARA
The following sentence summarizes well what Turkish-Armenians living
in Ankara went through: "Ankara is the capital, the heart of the state
and bureaucracy. You have to act in a more controlled manner in Ankara
if you are an Armenian." Turkish-Armenians in Ankara spend their
entire lives without learning their language, practicing their
religion or using Armenian names.
Within the scope of its oral history project, the Hrant Dink
Foundation, named after the Turkish-Armenian journalist who was killed
by an ultranationalist teenager in front of the office of the Agos
weekly in İstanbul in 2007, has completed a book on Turkish-Armenians
in Ankara after two previous books titled "Sounds of Silence,
Armenians of Turkey Speak" (Sessizliğin Sesi, Türkiyeli Ermeniler
Konuşuyor) and "Sounds of Silence 2, Armenians of Diyarbakır Speak"
(Sessizliğin Sesi 2, Diyarbakırlı Ermeniler Konuşuyor). The
foundation's new book, titled, "Sounds of Silence 3, Armenians of
Ankara Speak" (Sessizliğin Sesi 2, Ankaralı Ermeniler Konuşuyor) sheds
light on Turkish-Armenians' socio-cultural lives in Ankara. According
to the research of Raymond Kevorkian, a French historian of Armenian
descent, the population of Turkish-Armenians in Ankara, which was
11,246 in 1914, has dropped to around 300 in the present day.
Turkish-Armenians in Ankara, who used to work in the textile sector in
the past, want to become public servants, but they can only work as
contract personnel in public institutions. The majority of them cannot
speak Armenian, and they have already become accustomed to mixed
marriages, which they avoided in the past. They either have a Turkish
name in addition to their Armenian names or only a Turkish name. The
following sentence summarizes well what Turkish-Armenians living in
Ankara went though: "Ankara is the capital, the heart of the state and
bureaucracy. You have to act in a more controlled manner in Ankara if
you are an Armenian." One Turkish-Armenian, who has served as
principal clerk for the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality for a long
time and asked to remain anonymous, also said, "As a Turkish-Armenian,
you can have only limited space within the system." Among the
Turkish-Armenians who live in Ankara's Yenikent district, which used
to be an Armenian village called Istanoz, as well as Ulus and the
neighborhoods close to Ankara Castle, young Armenians usually avoided
disclosing their identity when interviewed by the foundation. A young
Turkish-Armenian expressed his concern about disclosing his identity,
saying that he had applied to a public institution for a job and he
was afraid of being rejected if his Armenian identity was revealed.
Although Turkish-Armenians in Ankara are much more silent that
Turkish-Armenians in İstanbul and other cities, they are now
expressing themselves more freely. They want to live as first-class
citizens of this country. Ferda Balancar, who directed the group that
conducted these interviews with Turkish-Armenians in Ankara, gave an
interview to Today's Zaman.
In order to overcome traumas, we need to talk about them
What is the purpose of the oral history project that you conducted
with Turkish-Armenians in Ankara?
The aim of this project is to find traces of the political and
cultural memory of Armenians living both in Turkey and other parts of
the world and understanding how Armenians perceive themselves and "the
others." In this way the project aims to reflect the Turkish-Armenian
reality, with its political, cultural and historical aspects.
How do the people that you interviewed define their identity in their
daily lives?
Many of them prefer to hide their Armenian identities, and the most
common practice to ensure this is using a Turkish name or giving their
children Turkish names.
They place great emphasis on the concept of being of or from Turkey
rather than on sect or ethnicity. What do you think is the reason for
this?
This is related to the democratization process and the liberalization
of identities that Turkey had gone through in the last 10 years. The
constitutional common denominator of different ethnic and religious
groups living in Turkey can be the concept of being of or from Turkey,
as seen in the draft of the new constitution. The Turkish-Armenians
that we interviewed also underlined this.
Have they overcome the traumas of the past, or did they just sweep
their feelings under the rug?
They have not overcome the traumas of the past; they have just swept
everything under the rug. In order to overcome these traumas, we need
to openly discuss them. Without this, it is impossible to overcome the
traumas.
What they demand in order to confront the past?
First of all, they demand a sincere and heart-felted apology. They
want to Turkish people to understand the sorrows Armenians are going
through not only during the 1915 incidents but also during the
nation-state process without blaming each others.
What are their expectations from the future compared to other Turkish citizens?
In fact, they do not have different demands. They want or live in a
democratic country that respects human rights. They think they would
have a more comfortable and happy life in such a country.
Considering the current development level of development of the
country in terms of human rights and freedoms, do they feel in secure?
They are also aware of the fact that Turkey has made a great progress
in terms of fundamental rights and freedoms in the recent years, but
they do not feel in secure. Because they are concerned that everything
may be reversed.
One of Armenians that you interviewed indicated the declining
population of Armenians in Turkey and said "We are only few people,
what will happen 70 years later?" Do you have an answer for this
question?
Armenian population in Turkey is about 70,000 or 80,000. If they
continue to have mixed marriages and migrate to abroad, there would
not be an Armenian community 50 years later.
Witness 1
I never like the sense of belonging
I would have gone both the Political Science Faculty (SBF), School of
Press and Broadcasting of Ankara University. I did not want to go to
Political Science Faculty because I think that I would never be an
ambassador, governor or bureaucrat because of my Armenian identity. If
you are an Armenian, the system allocates a very small room for you.
In 1968 when the street skirmishes between rightist and leftist groups
were fueled, I went to School of Press and Broadcasting of Ankara
University. I never involve in the clashes between rightist and
leftist groups, because for the both sides, I was the man who is
irrelevant. And no one wanted to lure me to their sides. I never like
the sense of belonging. I have never developed a sense of belonging to
any group.
Witness 2
Hrant Dink was expressing my feelings
Hrant Dink wanted to live as a Turkish-Armenian and serve his country.
He was expressing my feelings as well. Hrant Dink has a huge influence
on me. On the day when I learned that he later died, I was ruined.
Will I be Turk when I say I am a Turk? A person cannot change their
ethnicity, but I am a good person from Turkey. I carried Turkish flag,
red poem on Turkish national days. I get emotional when I heard our
national anthem, or see our flag. But do not want to see Flags and
Atatürk posters at everywhere. I am ready to do, and already doing my
best to unite at common denominator of being form Turkey and work the
for the sake of this country.
Witness 3
I want to live as the first-class citizens of this country.
My uncle felt in love with a Greek girl, They ran away together and
settled in the US. They had 5 daughters. He opened a tailor's shop and
he was earning good money. They had a good life. Both my uncle and his
wife passed away 5 or 6 years age. Although he had good life, he
always used to say: "I wish hadn't left my country." He went to the
US, and had a more comfortable life, but he always longed for these
land. I do not want to be like my uncle. I want to live in this
country as a first-class and equal citizen.
Witness 4
I teach Turkish to my grandchildren in Austria
When I was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria,
secretary-general of the party asked me if I have been oppressed while
living in Turkey because of the Armenian ethnicity. This was the first
time when I understand what discrimination is. I told I have never
been discriminated which was the truth. I am an Armenian but I am from
Turkey. I love our country. Although I live in Austria since 1979, I
follow every development in Turkey, and I teach Turkish to my
grandchildren in Austria.
Witness 5
An era has ended and a new era has started.
What has changed, so that we can discuss the Armenian issue more
freely? I believe, the coup cases have put an end to an era and
started a new one. Negotiation is required while trying to do
something. For example, while talking about re-opening of the Halki
Seminary on the island of Heybeliada near İstanbul, the issue of
re-opening of Turkish mosques in Greece should not be ignored.
Allowing one time a year worship at the Cathedral Church of the Holy
Cross, in the Akdamar island in Lake Van is a symbolic but very
important and positive move. There are very positive developments ,
and you cannot ignore them.
Witness 6
Since the Armenians have gone, the prosperity has been gone too
In the recent year, the 1915 incidents and the sorrows Armenians that
have gone through is being discussed. Unlike the past, he media also
extensively cover this issue. However, extensively discussing these
issues has both positive and negative impacts. It is not good thing to
twist the knife in that wound. I am cautious about this issue. Look at
what happened to Hrant Dink. He was working for the sake of this
country. He wanted to introduce peace between Turks and Armenians. I
do not understand why the people of this country have gone through
great pains. The both side have suffered. There is a proverb in
Anatolia saying: "Since the Armenians have gone, the prosperity has
been gone too," but the number of people who think killing of
Armenians or forcing them to migrate was a good thing is not small.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-335841-being-an-armenian-in-the-capital-of-the-bureaucracy-1.html
From: A. Papazian