297) Armenian architect to lead church restoration / Armenia progress on horizon, says gov't MP / Armenian Delegation Repeats Irredentist Claims

Armenian architect to lead church restoration
Sunday, June 26, 2005

 

ANKARA - Turkish Daily News

 

 

  A Turkish private company that will restore a historic Armenian church has decided to hire a Turkish architect of Armenian origin as part of the restoration team consisting of archaeologists, art historians and civil engineers.

 

  The owner of the company, Cahit Zeydanlý, met late last week with Turkish Armenian Patriarch Mesrob Mutafian to consult with him on hiring an Armenian architect for the project. After the meeting, Zeydanli said the company planned to hire Zakarya Mildanoðlu in line with the recommendation of the Armenian patriarch.

 

  “The restoration may take a year or two and our goal is to restore a nice church in accordance to its original form.â€� He predicted the restoration work would be completed by the end of 2006. The church is on Akdamar Island, situated in Lake Van, and has historical significance for both Turks and Armenians.

 

  Zeydanlý said the renovation project has the full support of top level Turkish officials, including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan and Culture and Tourism Minister Atilla Koç.

 

 

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Armenia progress on horizon, says gov't MP
Sunday, June 26, 2005

 

ELIF UNAL ARSLAN

 

ANKARA - Turkish Daily News

 

  The Turkish government could launch some sort of initiative to pave the way for eventual normalization in severed ties with Armenia, said a government deputy who presented a report to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan on how to ease tension with Yerevan following a recent unofficial visit to the neighboring country.

 

  "We should expect a new initiative [by Turkey]," Turhan Çömez of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) told the Turkish Daily News. "I can say that I hope and expect Turkish-Armenian relations will gain a new dimension in the coming period,â€� he said, adding that he was unable to elaborate further.

 

  In his report to Erdoðan, the deputy suggested moves ranging from the exchange of student groups to organizing joint sports and cultural events and establishing a joint working group of Turkish and Armenian parliamentarians that he said would lay the groundwork for building up mutual understanding, Turkey and Armenia have not enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1993, and tension runs high over Armenian allegations of genocide, a claim Turkey denies.

 

  “If you take a step to resolve chronic problems, problems that have become taboo, you will see that it is hard because of the prejudices existing on both sides,â€� commented Çömez. “But if you walk on a common ground in which there are no minefields, I mean no major problems, the headway you can make in these areas could constitute an important step toward resolving problematic issues.â€�

 

 

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Armenian Delegation Repeats Irredentist Claims

BRUSSELS (JTW) Armenian delegation in Brussels argued that ‘western Armenia’ is on the territory of Turkey. Head of Armenian delegation Tigran Torosyan named Turkey’s eastern provinces ‘Western Armenia’ and claimed these provinces should be belong to Armenia.

 

The Armenian Declaration of Independence also claim Turkish territories naming eastern turkey as ‘Western Armenia’.

 

Dr. Nilgun Gulcan said “if Armenia does not accept the existence of Turkey, she cannot expect any respect from a country it does not recognize.�

 

Dr. Sedat Laciner said “the last thing Turkey and Armenia need is more territory. Armenia and Turkey need each other. They must establish developed countries, not larger countries. As far as Armenian territorial demands continue, no Turkish Government can take any step to restore relations with Armenia. Territorial integrity is the most sensitive subject in Turkey. “

 

Armenia does not recognize Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and occupies 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories.

 

26 June 2005

 

turkishweekly.net

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