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AGBU Europe Hosts Conference on Armenian Heritage in Turkey

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  • AGBU Europe Hosts Conference on Armenian Heritage in Turkey

    AGBU Press Office
    55 East 59th Street
    New York, NY 10022-1112
    Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
    Fax: 212.319.6507
    Email: [email protected]
    Website: www.agbu.org

    PRESS RELEASE

    Wednesday, December 3, 2008

    AGBU Europe Hosts Groundbreaking Conference on Armenian Heritage in
    Turkey

    Brussels, Belgium - On November 13, AGBU Europe organized a conference
    in the European Parliament, entitled "A Journey of Cultural Rediscovery:
    Armenian Heritage in Turkey." The event highlighted the efforts of
    individuals in Turkey who are currently trying to reclaim the memories
    of the 1915 Armenian Genocide and rescue its cultural heritage today in
    their country.

    Many attendees were either of Armenian or Turkish backgrounds,
    professional educators or journalists, as well as representatives of the
    European Commission and Parliament, all of whom predominantly expressed
    unreserved support for the objectives of the conference.

    Speakers throughout the day discussed years of research, documentation
    and results surrounding the striking highlights of worthy Armenian
    contributions to Turkey, which mostly remain unknown to a majority of
    people in their country. For example, the Armenian architect Sinan
    created a beautiful 16th-century mosque in Edirne and an Armenian school
    in Erzerum hosted Ataturk's Erzerum Congress.

    Fethiye Cetin, a Turkish author, spoke about her own journey after
    discovering late in life that her grandmother was Armenian. She spoke
    about the moving and overwhelmingly sympathetic response to her book in
    Turkey, and stressed how personal emotions can lead the way to
    reconciliation and a fresh start for Armenian-Turkish relations.

    Historian Ara Sarafian, returning from another prolonged stay in eastern
    Turkey, reported on two parallel yet competing currents and personal
    stands in the country: one seeks to continuously portray Armenians as
    alien and threatening, while the other is concerned with the rediscovery
    of positive Armenian-Turkish bonds.

    Lastly, Professor Patrick Donabedian from France described in great
    detail some disheartening examples of Armenian architectural
    destruction, both intentional and through neglect, which is happening in
    present-day Turkey. On a more positive note, there are several
    initiatives in Turkey to protect the few remaining vestiges of Armenian
    heritage. Recently the minister of culture declared a museum would be
    built in honor of Armenian-American author William Saroyan in his
    parents' hometown of Bitlis. Donabedian is hopeful that one day the
    Turkish government may even give back several buildings that have been
    confiscated from the Armenian Church.

    The head representative in the European Commission's Turkey team
    presented a three-million-euro cultural heritage project launched in the
    Balkans to serve as inspiration for similar work with Turkey, stressing
    the importance of such issues in European Union policy.

    A tone emphasizing the importance of preserving and rejuvenating the
    Armenian cultural heritage in Turkey was universal among the audience
    and presenters. There was also common consensus that with the help of
    European institutions, research, education, and shared personal
    experiences, steps can be taken to reach this goal and, with a revived
    Armenian culture in Turkey, important developments can then be made in
    Turkish society, positively affecting the Armenian diaspora.

    Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest
    non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City an
    annual budget of $36 million, AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian
    identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian
    program, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians in 37 countries.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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