Representatives of the Armenian community of Istanbul met with Turkey’s Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin and Bakirkoy Mayor Ates Unal Erzen.

Armenian community representatives stressed they express problems more clearly during the meetings on the ministerial level, Hurriyet Diaily News reported.  

During the meeting representative of the Armenian community Arev Cebeci also highlighted Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arınc’s statement admitting that the state had seized property from minorities but was now “giving it back” through a recent decision.

“When will our rights be restored? When will we assume official posts and achieve the status of equal citizens? When will we be able to become civil servants? I don’t want to tell stories to my children anymore, [I want to tell] the truth,” Cebeci said.

The sides also touched upon the issues related to selection of a new patriarch and the new draft constitution.