Hopes and concerns of Turkish Armenians
15:41 / 11/26/2009

In the light of recent developments in Armenian-Turkish relations, various sources over the globe touch upon this topical issue. Thus, Arabic-language news network Al Jazeera issued an article under “Turkish Armenians hope for new era” head, that describes life, concerns and hopes of Armenian community in Turkey.

The Armenia-Turkey process was of large significance especially for Armenians of Turkey, “one community that has been watching this process with a mixture of both hope and trepidation is the Armenian community of Istanbul.”

“Numbering between 60,000 to 70,000, these are the last descendants of a community that once numbered millions throughout the territory of Turkey's predecessor, the Ottoman Empire,” the e-source reads, underlining that Armenians are presently the largest “officially-recognized minority group with a history in the city [Istanbul] that stretches back to medieval times” in the country.

According to Al Jazeera, despite numerous problems, Armenians and Turks have “generally good on personal level.” However, “this rapprochement has been both welcomed and feared by the Turkish Armenian community,” the source says.

Turkish Armenians hail positive ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government. Commenting on the policy of ruling AKP party, the editor of Armenian Turkey-based Marmara newspaper Robert Haddeler told Al Jazeera, “For the first time, we have felt that the mood in government has changed. Now we are hoping that this change of mood will take place amongst the population at large.”

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