For reasons that we hope will be understood, we kindly request that only Armenians from Turkey sign the petition.
ON THE STATEMENT MADE BY BEDROS ŞİRİNOĞLU
Perhaps we live in a different Turkey!
Perhaps we live in a different Turkey!
It was with distaste that we followed the statement made by Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital Foundation President Mr. Bedros Şirinoğlu on 26 March 2010, after a meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This statement that disinformed the public contains many points that demand clarification.
Şirinoğlu not “Leader of the Armenian Community”
Bedros Şirinoğlu is not the ‘Leader of the Armenian Community’ as stated in the daily agenda issued by the Press Office of the Prime Ministry; he is the President of the Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital Foundation. Representing and expressing views on behalf of the Armenian community does not fall within the province of the Foundation administration. Consequently, Mr. Şirinoğlu’s statement binds only himself, not the Armenian community. We are awaiting a correction from those who have misinformed the public.
Bedros Şirinoğlu is not the ‘Leader of the Armenian Community’ as stated in the daily agenda issued by the Press Office of the Prime Ministry; he is the President of the Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital Foundation. Representing and expressing views on behalf of the Armenian community does not fall within the province of the Foundation administration. Consequently, Mr. Şirinoğlu’s statement binds only himself, not the Armenian community. We are awaiting a correction from those who have misinformed the public.
Foundation estates not returned yet
Although Surp Pırgiç Foundation administrators got an appointment with the Prime Minister to thank him on the occasion of the return of eight estates confiscated by the state years ago, the problem concerning confiscated Armenian community foundation estates has still not been completely resolved. Experts frequently express that the steps that have been taken in this field are profoundly insubstantial and insincere. (The fact that the General Directorate of Foundations has certified the return of only 96 estates out of the 1410 recent applications filed by community foundations for the return of estates confiscated by the state is indicative of the gravity of the situation.)
The reality of our lives in Turkey is different
Upon Şirinoğlu’s statement that “Armenians feel themselves safe in Turkey. Have you heard any complaint from an Armenian living in Turkey? Have you? Have you?” we are left with the feeling “Perhaps we live in a different Turkey!” He may feel himself safe, but it is a lie that all Armenians living in Turkey feel themselves safe. In this country, Armenians face racism and discrimination; Armenians here are used as bargain chips in international relations and acute anti-Armenian sentiments continue to survive in broad segments of this society. We would have expected Mr. Şirinoğlu to remember and remind the Prime Minister how Hrant Dink was assassinated three years ago and how no real steps have been taken to find the real perpetrators of this crime.
Not underestimate, but confront the past
We denounce the description of what happened in 1915 as "a quarrel between friends", the underestimation of and the attempt to cover up this big crime against humanity, as a result of which Armenian population was forcibly scattered all over the world and diminished to 60 thousand in Turkey, which was over 1.5 million in the beginning of the 20th century. The road to justice demands that we confront the past, not cover it up.
If the goal is to undo a mistake, what needs to be done is evident
This meeting taking place shortly after the Prime Minister’s threat to deport 100 thousand citizens of Armenia from Turkey and Şirinoğlu apologizing, saying “We misguided the Prime Minister”, give us the impression that these are all part of a reparation performance staged by the government to impress world public opinion. Threatening immigrants who are engaged in a struggle for life in this country with deportation is unethical; irrespective of their nationality. The essential fault with these words is not a numerical one and it is the duty of the Prime Minister himself to correct it. As Armenians who want to live in this country not as hostages or protégés but as equal citizens, we deeply criticize the Prime Minister for making such a statement and declare that we do not agree with Mr. Bedros Şirinoğlu’s statement in any way.