Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu promised to do everything he can so that the country’s sole remaining Armenian village will continue its existence even after the new legislative changes with respect to cities. 

Kilicdaroglu, who visited Armenian populated Vakiflikoy (Vakif) village in Turkey’s Hatay Province, spoke with the locals and listened to their concerns regarding the new law on cities, Milliyet daily of Turkey reports.    

The Armenian villagers noted that, pursuant to the new law, the City of Hatay will become a metropolitan and their village will become a district of this metropolitan and, as a result, the Armenian culture in the village will disappear. 

The CHP leader informed that they will introduce a new law proposal to the Turkish parliament, to preserve the self-government of the village.     

To note, pursuant to the new law which was recently passed, Turkey’s villages with a population of less than 500 will lose their status as a village and be attached to an inhabitation, thereby losing the right to elect a village prefect.  

Only 135 people live in Vakiflikoy (Vakif) village, which is Turkey’s sole remaining Armenian village.