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Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Dec 30 2011
Old church turns into culture center
ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency
Vortvots Vorodman Armenian Church reopened on Dec 28. The church has
not been used since World War I and turned into a culture center after
restoration.
Turkish Customs and Trade Minister Hayati Yazıcı inaugurated Vortvots
Vorodman Armenian Church Culture Center in Istanbul Dec. 28, using the
opportunity to discuss Turkish-Armenian relations.
Referring to a recent French resolution that criminalizes the denial
of Armenian allegations regarding 1915 incidents adopted by French
Parliament, Yazıcı said it was wrong to assess Turkish-Armenian
relations within the range of only a short period of time during World
War I. The Turkish-Armenian friendship was nearly 1,000 years old, he
said.
Yazıcı said Armenians were defined as `loyal people' during the
Ottoman Empire period, and said there had been no problem between
Turks and Armenians until the 20th century. Today, according to
unofficial figures, nearly 100,000 Armenians are living in Turkey,
said Yazıcı.
Noting Turkey's views regarding the 1915 incidents were based on
archives, documents and scientific research, Yazıcı said it would be
the most correct thing to leave the issue to historians of both
countries. Parliaments should not act like courts and should not make
judgments relating to such issues, said Yazıcı, adding involvement in
this process for political advantage by third countries like France
was wrong.
The Lower House of French Parliament recently passed a resolution
criminalizing rejection of Armenian allegations pertaining to the
incidents of 1915. Only 70 of 577 parliamentarians joined the voting
of the resolution, which passed after winning the vote majority.
The resolution proposes a one-year prison term and a fine of 45,000
euros for those who deny genocide recognized by French laws. French
Parliament already officially recognized the 1915 Armenian `genocide'
on Jan. 29, 2001.
Vortvots Vorodman (Children of Thunder) Church, which opened for
worship Oct. 14, 1828, has not been used since World War I. The
building was restored as part of the scope of projects initiated
around Istanbul European Capital of Culture 2010.
December/30/2011
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/old-church-turns-into-culture-center.aspx?pageID=238&nID=10309&NewsCatID=393
Dec 30 2011
Old church turns into culture center
ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency
Vortvots Vorodman Armenian Church reopened on Dec 28. The church has
not been used since World War I and turned into a culture center after
restoration.
Turkish Customs and Trade Minister Hayati Yazıcı inaugurated Vortvots
Vorodman Armenian Church Culture Center in Istanbul Dec. 28, using the
opportunity to discuss Turkish-Armenian relations.
Referring to a recent French resolution that criminalizes the denial
of Armenian allegations regarding 1915 incidents adopted by French
Parliament, Yazıcı said it was wrong to assess Turkish-Armenian
relations within the range of only a short period of time during World
War I. The Turkish-Armenian friendship was nearly 1,000 years old, he
said.
Yazıcı said Armenians were defined as `loyal people' during the
Ottoman Empire period, and said there had been no problem between
Turks and Armenians until the 20th century. Today, according to
unofficial figures, nearly 100,000 Armenians are living in Turkey,
said Yazıcı.
Noting Turkey's views regarding the 1915 incidents were based on
archives, documents and scientific research, Yazıcı said it would be
the most correct thing to leave the issue to historians of both
countries. Parliaments should not act like courts and should not make
judgments relating to such issues, said Yazıcı, adding involvement in
this process for political advantage by third countries like France
was wrong.
The Lower House of French Parliament recently passed a resolution
criminalizing rejection of Armenian allegations pertaining to the
incidents of 1915. Only 70 of 577 parliamentarians joined the voting
of the resolution, which passed after winning the vote majority.
The resolution proposes a one-year prison term and a fine of 45,000
euros for those who deny genocide recognized by French laws. French
Parliament already officially recognized the 1915 Armenian `genocide'
on Jan. 29, 2001.
Vortvots Vorodman (Children of Thunder) Church, which opened for
worship Oct. 14, 1828, has not been used since World War I. The
building was restored as part of the scope of projects initiated
around Istanbul European Capital of Culture 2010.
December/30/2011
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/old-church-turns-into-culture-center.aspx?pageID=238&nID=10309&NewsCatID=393