Kurds, Yezidis in Armenia and Turkey debate identity
Friday, August 13, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
YEREVAN - Hürriyet Daily News
In a battle over political identity, Kurds and Yezidis in Armenia have become engaged in a discursive debate over the two groups’ relationship to each other. Some Kurds argue Yezidizm is a religion and that Yezidis are a branch of the Kurds; some Yezidis agree with this definition, but others claim they form a different nation. The chief editors of Kurdish and Yezidi newspapers in Armenia, as well as a Yezidi in Turkey evaluated the situation for the Daily News
In a debate over taxonomy largely rooted in identity politics between state and society, Kurds and Yezidis in Armenia are increasingly struggling over definitions of their communal boundaries.
There are many Kurds in the country where religious Yezidism is practiced and where Yezidis are a Kurdish people. While many Yezidis tolerate this situation, others do not, arguing the Yezidis constitute a people separate from the Kurds.
Complicating the debate, the Yezidi community in Turkey, which numbers about 400, define themselves as Kurds.
“If you ask me what my religion is, I would tell you that I am a Yezidi but I am Kurdish,” said Grişae Meme-Chatoian, chief editor of the Kurdish-language R'ya T'eze newspaper, which has been published in Yerevan since 1930.
Yezidism, moreover, is the oldest religious belief for Kurds, according the Meme-Chatoian, who added that the notion of separate Kurdish and Yezidi communities stemmed from USSR-era policies that sought to create a conflict between the two groups.
Yezidi is the most common term applied to the community in English, although members of the group refer to themselves as “Ezidi” in Kurdish since they believe Yezidi or “Yazidi” carries with it pejorative notions of devil-worship.
“Unlike the Kurds in Turkey, we are living in extremely comfortable conditions in Armenia,” he said. “Our only problem is the separation on the matter of Kurds and Yezidis. Armenian historians have a great responsibility in [discussing] this.”
‘Yezidis are separate people’
Kheder Hajoian, chief editor for the monthly Yezidixhana, which is published in a dialect of Kurdish used by Yezidis, disagreed with Meme-Chatoian, saying Yezidis constitute a separate people.
“The Kurds are trying to assimilate us. Yezidism is not a religion; it is a nation,” he said.
“The reason Kurds are making noise wherever they are is them wanting a country [for themselves] – that is the whole reason,” he said. “They want to make their population look larger that it is. They are trying to claim Yezidism because they do not have a history or culture, but it is a futile attempt.”
According to an Armenian population census from Feb. 21, 2001, the country is home to roughly 40,000 Yezidis and approximately 1,500 Kurds. Together, the two groups generally live in 25 villages or in the country’s major population centers.
‘Yezidis in Turkey perceive themselves as Kurds’
Journalist Eyüp Burç, a Yezidi from a large clan centered in a village in the Viranşehir district of the Southeast Anatolian province of Şanlıurfa, with members in Armenia as well, said he was following the debates in Armenia closely.
Agreeing with Meme-Chatoian, he blamed Armenia for the debate over communal boundaries.
“The concept of a Yezidi nation was brought forward to divide the Kurds. That is why a great conflict is being experienced,” he said.
Yezidism is among the oldest belief systems of the Kurds, he said, adding that most of the Kurds who believe Yezidism is a religion reside in Iraq, where a similar discussion over self-definitions of identity were also occurring in Mosul.
“Yezidis are considered Arab in population records. The basic goal here is to portray the population of the Kurds as being as low as possible,” Burç said.
‘I did not believe in the Kurdish initiative’
Meme-Chatoian said he is closely following the developments on Kurds in Turkey, but added that he never believed in the Kurdish initiative brought to the agenda last year by the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP. Moreover, he said, broadcasting by TRT Şeş, the state-owned Kurdish-language TV channel was insufficient.
Instead, many Kurds living in eastern Turkey listen to Kurdish radio coming from Armenia, Meme-Chatoian said.
13 Ağustos 2010 Cuma
Armenian Church officials to attend service in SE Turkey
Armenian Church officials to attend service in SE Turkey
Thursday, August 12, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has officially been invited to a historic service in Van by the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul. The See welcomed the invitation and will send two clerics for the service on Sept. 19. Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian, a patriarchal candidate in Istanbul, was not invited, however
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Armenia-based spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has accepted an invitation from the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul to attend a special mass on Van’s Akdamar Island on Sept. 19.
The See will send at least two clerics to attend the service, in addition to the clerics who will attend along with Deputy Istanbul Patriarch and Archbishop Aram Ateşyan.
Speaking Thursday to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian, primate of the Church’s Diocese of Gougark in northern Armenia, confirmed there would be attendance from Etchmiadzin.
Bishop Margos Srpazan and Father Gomidas will attend on behalf of the See, according to Chouldjian, who is one of the most likely candidates to be the next Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul.
Chouldjian, however, said he could not understand why he was not invited despite being a patriarchal candidate.
“Etchmiadzin left the decision to me,” said Chouldjian, who can still attend if he chooses. “I will declare my decision to attend or not several days before the service, without expecting any protocol application from the Patriarchate if I do decide to attend on Sept. 19.”
Explaining why only two clerics were attending from the See, Chouldjian said it was “because Turkey’s decision to allow one service a year [on the island] is perceived as a political one.”
Chouldjian stood for the election of deputy Istanbul patriarch after Mesrop II became unable to fulfill his duties due to frontal dementia, forcing the Armenian Apostolic Church in Istanbul to begin discussing new leadership options.
Since the patriarch’s illness, the Patriarchate and the rival Initiating Committee have disagreed on how to fill left by Mesrop II becoming incapacitated.
Finally, the Interior Ministry intervened after the disagreement could not be overcome and stated that no election for the position of patriarch could be held while Mesrop II is alive.
In response, the Divine Council of the Patriarchate made a snap decision that was not announced publicly and assigned Ateşyan as deputy patriarch. The incident remains a point of debate.
Sarkisian’s party discouraging Armenian participation at Akdamar
Meanwhile, Radio Free Europe – Radio Liberty, or RFE-RL, reported on Thursday that Armenian President Serge Sarkisian's Republican Party, or HHK, spoke out against Armenian participation in the landmark service to be held Akdamar Island’s Surp Haç Church in the eastern province of Van.
HHK spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov denounced the Turkish government's decision to reopen the church for a one-day religious ceremony on Sept. 19, calling it a publicity stunt and a "provocation" aimed at misleading the international community.
“Once again, instead of taking a serious step, the Turks are staging an imitation show,” Sharmazanov told Radio Free Europe. "I don't think you can achieve tolerance and solidarity of civilizations in that way."
Giro Manoyan from the opposition party Armenian Revolutionary Federation, or Dashnaktsutyun, also spoke to RFE-RL and called on Armenians to boycott the service.
"I don't want to blame believers willing to go there, but they must know that they somewhat contribute to the Turkish provocation," he said.
In the same story, Father Vahram Melikian, a spokesman for Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, said, "We believe that if we are given an opportunity to cherish a shrine that had functioned for centuries but is devoid of prayer today for some reason, we must use even that single day in order to assert our rights and ownership of the shrine with our participation."
Thursday, August 12, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has officially been invited to a historic service in Van by the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul. The See welcomed the invitation and will send two clerics for the service on Sept. 19. Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian, a patriarchal candidate in Istanbul, was not invited, however
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Armenia-based spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has accepted an invitation from the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul to attend a special mass on Van’s Akdamar Island on Sept. 19.
The See will send at least two clerics to attend the service, in addition to the clerics who will attend along with Deputy Istanbul Patriarch and Archbishop Aram Ateşyan.
Speaking Thursday to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian, primate of the Church’s Diocese of Gougark in northern Armenia, confirmed there would be attendance from Etchmiadzin.
Bishop Margos Srpazan and Father Gomidas will attend on behalf of the See, according to Chouldjian, who is one of the most likely candidates to be the next Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul.
Chouldjian, however, said he could not understand why he was not invited despite being a patriarchal candidate.
“Etchmiadzin left the decision to me,” said Chouldjian, who can still attend if he chooses. “I will declare my decision to attend or not several days before the service, without expecting any protocol application from the Patriarchate if I do decide to attend on Sept. 19.”
Explaining why only two clerics were attending from the See, Chouldjian said it was “because Turkey’s decision to allow one service a year [on the island] is perceived as a political one.”
Chouldjian stood for the election of deputy Istanbul patriarch after Mesrop II became unable to fulfill his duties due to frontal dementia, forcing the Armenian Apostolic Church in Istanbul to begin discussing new leadership options.
Since the patriarch’s illness, the Patriarchate and the rival Initiating Committee have disagreed on how to fill left by Mesrop II becoming incapacitated.
Finally, the Interior Ministry intervened after the disagreement could not be overcome and stated that no election for the position of patriarch could be held while Mesrop II is alive.
In response, the Divine Council of the Patriarchate made a snap decision that was not announced publicly and assigned Ateşyan as deputy patriarch. The incident remains a point of debate.
Sarkisian’s party discouraging Armenian participation at Akdamar
Meanwhile, Radio Free Europe – Radio Liberty, or RFE-RL, reported on Thursday that Armenian President Serge Sarkisian's Republican Party, or HHK, spoke out against Armenian participation in the landmark service to be held Akdamar Island’s Surp Haç Church in the eastern province of Van.
HHK spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov denounced the Turkish government's decision to reopen the church for a one-day religious ceremony on Sept. 19, calling it a publicity stunt and a "provocation" aimed at misleading the international community.
“Once again, instead of taking a serious step, the Turks are staging an imitation show,” Sharmazanov told Radio Free Europe. "I don't think you can achieve tolerance and solidarity of civilizations in that way."
Giro Manoyan from the opposition party Armenian Revolutionary Federation, or Dashnaktsutyun, also spoke to RFE-RL and called on Armenians to boycott the service.
"I don't want to blame believers willing to go there, but they must know that they somewhat contribute to the Turkish provocation," he said.
In the same story, Father Vahram Melikian, a spokesman for Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, said, "We believe that if we are given an opportunity to cherish a shrine that had functioned for centuries but is devoid of prayer today for some reason, we must use even that single day in order to assert our rights and ownership of the shrine with our participation."
8 Ağustos 2010 Pazar
Turkish island home to well-established Armenian summer camp
Turkish island home to well-established Armenian summer camp
Saturday, August 7, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
The summer camp of the Armenian community in Kınalıada has kept its doors open every summer for the past five decades. As members of the Armenian community slowly migrate to other countries, the camp receives only half the number of children that it used to host. The camp administration wants to host children from Armenian families that are in need of assistance but is stumbling on internal regulations
The summer camp is open for children ages 4 to 14.
Istanbul’s Princes' Islands are known for their cosmopolitan culture, as they are often frequented by the city’s non-muslim minority members, with some even owning summer houses on the islands. Kınalıada is the one mostly prefered by Turkey’s 50,000 Armenians. In addition to the summer residence of the Armenian Patriarch, a summer camp has been opening its doors to Armenian children each year for at least the last five decades.
The summer camp, constructed in the 1960’s under the initiative of then Patriarch Shinorhk Kalustyan, hosts children of families with low incomes and who need assistance.
The camp’s status is different to those of the other schools of non – muslim communities. “The camp is not tied to the Ministry of Education. It belongs to the Foundation of the school of Karagözyan Orphanage,” Zevan Çavuşyan from the camp’s administration told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review last week. “We only need the consent of the Island Municipality to open the camp each summer. It is the only one among non – Muslim community schools to have this status,” said Çavuşyan, president of the administrative board of the camp.
Run by a 12 member administrative board, the camp is open to children between the ages of 4 and 14 and the camps dozens of personnel include medical doctors and pedagogues. The camp has also started accepting an increasing number of children from Turkish – Armenian couples over the last few years.
One of the camp administration’s main ambitions is to host the children of Armenian families that need assistance, but they can not fulfill this ambition because of certain regulations.
"Although we are not under the authority of Education Ministry, when it comes to the issue of children from Armenia we have to abide to the regulations on minority schools. We can therefore only accept the children of Armenian families that are citizen of Turkey,” said Çavuşyan.
The camp hosts 130 children
The archives show that during its first years, the camp used to host more than 250 children each year from all over Turkey.
Nowadays, that number has decreased by as much as half.
"A significant number of community members pave migrated to different countries. Now finding an orphan is nearly impossible,” said Çavuşyan.
The camp will host around 130 children this summer. "The camp continues until the end of September. We start with 130 children but we might end up with around 90. Sometimes we send those minors who can not get adopted back,” he said.
Another aim of the camp’s administration is to mingle the children with local island inhabitants. A number of activities are organized with that purpose in mind, said Çavuşyan:
“Meeting the children from outside the camp enables the visiting kids to get more socialized. We try to eliminate class or social status difference through these activities,” he said.
The camp receives support and assistance from the Island Water Sports Club. “Each summer, the Club welcomes the camp’s children without any material expectation, and we are grateful to them,” he said.
In addition to the Armenian volunteers, the camp is also visited by foreigners. The children are taught different languages during their stay.
"The children also learn to play a music organ, paint and participate in sportive activities,” said Tamar Karasu, the camp’s secretary general. Basketball and football games are organized between the camp’s residents and the islands locals. Having been raised on the island, Karasu confessed he never visited the camp until he became its manager.
13-year-old Melis Öcal has been coming to the camp with her siblings for the last five years. She said she feared growing up and not being able to come to the camp. “Now I found a formula. I will come to the camp as an instructor and take care of the children. I will therefore not stay away from the camp,” she said.
12-year-old Manuel Haçikoğlu did not even realize how the two months had passed already. He does miss his parents but he said he could see them at the week-ends
Saturday, August 7, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
The summer camp of the Armenian community in Kınalıada has kept its doors open every summer for the past five decades. As members of the Armenian community slowly migrate to other countries, the camp receives only half the number of children that it used to host. The camp administration wants to host children from Armenian families that are in need of assistance but is stumbling on internal regulations
The summer camp is open for children ages 4 to 14.
Istanbul’s Princes' Islands are known for their cosmopolitan culture, as they are often frequented by the city’s non-muslim minority members, with some even owning summer houses on the islands. Kınalıada is the one mostly prefered by Turkey’s 50,000 Armenians. In addition to the summer residence of the Armenian Patriarch, a summer camp has been opening its doors to Armenian children each year for at least the last five decades.
The summer camp, constructed in the 1960’s under the initiative of then Patriarch Shinorhk Kalustyan, hosts children of families with low incomes and who need assistance.
The camp’s status is different to those of the other schools of non – muslim communities. “The camp is not tied to the Ministry of Education. It belongs to the Foundation of the school of Karagözyan Orphanage,” Zevan Çavuşyan from the camp’s administration told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review last week. “We only need the consent of the Island Municipality to open the camp each summer. It is the only one among non – Muslim community schools to have this status,” said Çavuşyan, president of the administrative board of the camp.
Run by a 12 member administrative board, the camp is open to children between the ages of 4 and 14 and the camps dozens of personnel include medical doctors and pedagogues. The camp has also started accepting an increasing number of children from Turkish – Armenian couples over the last few years.
One of the camp administration’s main ambitions is to host the children of Armenian families that need assistance, but they can not fulfill this ambition because of certain regulations.
"Although we are not under the authority of Education Ministry, when it comes to the issue of children from Armenia we have to abide to the regulations on minority schools. We can therefore only accept the children of Armenian families that are citizen of Turkey,” said Çavuşyan.
The camp hosts 130 children
The archives show that during its first years, the camp used to host more than 250 children each year from all over Turkey.
Nowadays, that number has decreased by as much as half.
"A significant number of community members pave migrated to different countries. Now finding an orphan is nearly impossible,” said Çavuşyan.
The camp will host around 130 children this summer. "The camp continues until the end of September. We start with 130 children but we might end up with around 90. Sometimes we send those minors who can not get adopted back,” he said.
Another aim of the camp’s administration is to mingle the children with local island inhabitants. A number of activities are organized with that purpose in mind, said Çavuşyan:
“Meeting the children from outside the camp enables the visiting kids to get more socialized. We try to eliminate class or social status difference through these activities,” he said.
The camp receives support and assistance from the Island Water Sports Club. “Each summer, the Club welcomes the camp’s children without any material expectation, and we are grateful to them,” he said.
In addition to the Armenian volunteers, the camp is also visited by foreigners. The children are taught different languages during their stay.
"The children also learn to play a music organ, paint and participate in sportive activities,” said Tamar Karasu, the camp’s secretary general. Basketball and football games are organized between the camp’s residents and the islands locals. Having been raised on the island, Karasu confessed he never visited the camp until he became its manager.
13-year-old Melis Öcal has been coming to the camp with her siblings for the last five years. She said she feared growing up and not being able to come to the camp. “Now I found a formula. I will come to the camp as an instructor and take care of the children. I will therefore not stay away from the camp,” she said.
12-year-old Manuel Haçikoğlu did not even realize how the two months had passed already. He does miss his parents but he said he could see them at the week-ends
4 Ağustos 2010 Çarşamba
Armenian tourists prefer Turkey's south, east
Armenian tourists prefer Turkey's south, east
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
YEREVAN - Hürriyet Daily News
Many Armenian tourists also visit the Ani ruins in eastern Turkey's Kars. Hürriyet photo
Ignoring the calls of their national press to boycott Turkey, many Armenians are choosing the Turkish Mediterranean coast for their summer vacations.
According to travel-agency figures, 50,000 Armenian tourists visited the southern Turkish province of Antalya in 2009 and such visitors are from the highest income bracket.
Narine Davityan, the manager of Tez Tour, believes the southern town of Bodrum, in Muğla province, will dethrone Antalya next year as an attraction for Armenian tourists. Adding that the tours Tez organizes to both locations would continue through October, Davityan told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review: “The prices are climbing depending on the season. Despite the price increase, there is not the slightest decline in demand.”
Tour prices vary between $500 and $2,000 according to the type and standards of hotel accommodation, and whether it is full-board or half-board.
Despite the closed borders and the crippled relationship between the two countries, Armenians’ demand for Turkey trips has also affected the aviation industry. In addition to regular weekly flights between Yerevan and Istanbul by Armavia Airlines (the national airliner of Armenia) and Atlas Jet, tour operators have recently begun flights between Antalya and Yerevan via Airbus 300 charter planes hired from Armavia Airlines.
The flights between Antalya and Yerevan occur twice a week, and, according to tour operators’ figures, demand is high. Statistically, the demand for tours to Turkey is followed by the demand for tours to Cairo and Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, as well as to Dubai.
According to figures by Davityan, Tez Tour has taken 7,000 Armenian tourists to Antalya: “We started our tours three years ago. Every year there is a 30 percent boost in demand, and this is really promising.”
Valer Muradyan, the manager of Nekevank Tour, confirmed the high demand for Turkey, adding that the company is taking Armenian tourists to Antalya twice a week. He said each tour operator has its own pricing policy, and the prices vary according to the type of accommodation and the standards of the hotels with which the operators contract. Muradyan said high agency’s prices range between $300 and $500, adding that tour operators in Armenia have already started making bookings for next year.
“We only have tours for Antalya, and there is a new demand for Bodrum. Perhaps we will include it in our program next year. Our tours will continue through October,” he said.
Cultural tourists prefer eastern Turkey
Although beach lovers prefer Antalya and Bodrum, not all Armenians are after sea and sun for their vacations. Those who look for culture and history instead favor Istanbul and eastern Turkey. Among the eastern provinces, the most preferred are Kars, where the ruins of the ancient Armenian city of Ani are located, and Van, famous for the Surp Harç Church on Lake Van’s Akdamar Island, which opens in September for one annual service.
Davityan said tour operators are doing their best to meet the demand by introducing new package programs. “Despite the closed borders, the tourism capacity is fascinating,” the Tez Tour manager said. “I cannot imagine how much it will prosper once the borders are opened again.”
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
YEREVAN - Hürriyet Daily News
Many Armenian tourists also visit the Ani ruins in eastern Turkey's Kars. Hürriyet photo
Ignoring the calls of their national press to boycott Turkey, many Armenians are choosing the Turkish Mediterranean coast for their summer vacations.
According to travel-agency figures, 50,000 Armenian tourists visited the southern Turkish province of Antalya in 2009 and such visitors are from the highest income bracket.
Narine Davityan, the manager of Tez Tour, believes the southern town of Bodrum, in Muğla province, will dethrone Antalya next year as an attraction for Armenian tourists. Adding that the tours Tez organizes to both locations would continue through October, Davityan told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review: “The prices are climbing depending on the season. Despite the price increase, there is not the slightest decline in demand.”
Tour prices vary between $500 and $2,000 according to the type and standards of hotel accommodation, and whether it is full-board or half-board.
Despite the closed borders and the crippled relationship between the two countries, Armenians’ demand for Turkey trips has also affected the aviation industry. In addition to regular weekly flights between Yerevan and Istanbul by Armavia Airlines (the national airliner of Armenia) and Atlas Jet, tour operators have recently begun flights between Antalya and Yerevan via Airbus 300 charter planes hired from Armavia Airlines.
The flights between Antalya and Yerevan occur twice a week, and, according to tour operators’ figures, demand is high. Statistically, the demand for tours to Turkey is followed by the demand for tours to Cairo and Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, as well as to Dubai.
According to figures by Davityan, Tez Tour has taken 7,000 Armenian tourists to Antalya: “We started our tours three years ago. Every year there is a 30 percent boost in demand, and this is really promising.”
Valer Muradyan, the manager of Nekevank Tour, confirmed the high demand for Turkey, adding that the company is taking Armenian tourists to Antalya twice a week. He said each tour operator has its own pricing policy, and the prices vary according to the type of accommodation and the standards of the hotels with which the operators contract. Muradyan said high agency’s prices range between $300 and $500, adding that tour operators in Armenia have already started making bookings for next year.
“We only have tours for Antalya, and there is a new demand for Bodrum. Perhaps we will include it in our program next year. Our tours will continue through October,” he said.
Cultural tourists prefer eastern Turkey
Although beach lovers prefer Antalya and Bodrum, not all Armenians are after sea and sun for their vacations. Those who look for culture and history instead favor Istanbul and eastern Turkey. Among the eastern provinces, the most preferred are Kars, where the ruins of the ancient Armenian city of Ani are located, and Van, famous for the Surp Harç Church on Lake Van’s Akdamar Island, which opens in September for one annual service.
Davityan said tour operators are doing their best to meet the demand by introducing new package programs. “Despite the closed borders, the tourism capacity is fascinating,” the Tez Tour manager said. “I cannot imagine how much it will prosper once the borders are opened again.”
Armenian artist Hakverdian's works to be released in Turkey
Armenian artist Hakverdian's works to be released in Turkey
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
YEREVAN - Hürriyet Daily News
Turkish music companies have begun to move to secure the copyrights to the works of legendary Armenian artist Rupen Hakverdian, whose songs have been popular across Europe. Conveying his love to Turkish intellectuals working for reconciliation between Turks and Armenians, Hakverdian says, ‘Stay away from nationalism; ignorance feeds nationalism’
Armenian musician Rupen Hakverdian
Illustrating the cultural exchange that occurs despite continued political tension, the works of legendary Armenian musician Rupen Hakverdian are now set for release in the Turkish market as local companies queue to secure copyrights for the music.
“It makes me happy that my songs are being performed in different languages,” Hakverdian told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review in a recent interview in his house, in which he is preparing for a new album.
Although his works were banned during the Soviet era, Hakverdian’s music was nonetheless performed in languages as diverse as French and Czech.
Hakverdian said he had received many demands from Turkey to release his works in the country although he did not mention the names of the companies.
The demand for his songs points toward the larger trend of cross-cultural exchange. “Borders are closed but the way for intercultural interaction is open,” Hakverdian said, adding that Armenian culture in the present eponymous republic was largely under the effect of Turkish culture.
“What we call unique Armenian culture has been created by Istanbul-based western Armenians and Anatolian Armenians. Armenia does not have its own culture,” he said. “It has been affected by other cultures.”
Emphasizing his point, Hakverdian said Armenian artists had stolen Turkish and Azerbaijani music. “In the past, Armenian songs were stolen in Turkey but now it is the same in Armenia. This is a big mistake. We should not have repeated the same mistakes.”
Noting that many in Armenia would disagree with his statement, he said: “I wish I were mistaken but unfortunately, all I said is true. Of course intercultural exchange is possible, I am not against it but everything should have a style – stealing cannot be accepted.”
Furthermore, the constant Turkish and Armenian squabbling over the cultural ownership of anonymous songs was tiring, Hakverdian said.
“What is the point of discussing the ownership of anonymous songs? What is important is how they make us feel,” he said, pointing to a healthier attitude on the issue in the Balkans. “There is no fight for songs in the Balkans. This is why they have become richer in the cultural field.”
‘I am estranged from this city’
Despite numerous tours around the world, Hakverdian said he had never been to Turkey, but added that he would gladly come if he received an invitation.
Noting that many friends had migrated overseas after Armenia’s independence, Hakverdian said he felt alone, a feeling he shares in his songs with his listeners.
“I’ve become estranged from this city [Yerevan] and its people. I prefer to get in touch with an intellectual Turk rather than an ignorant Armenian,” he said. “What I want to say is that the human being comes first before [anything else]. Being able to find a common language with them is important.”
Hakverdian said he appreciated the recent steps taken by Turkish intellectuals to bring the peoples of the two countries together, sending them his love and greetings. “They are struggling for the peace of two peoples. They are worthy of appreciation.”
He said he had met many Turkish artists during his tours, having discussions with them.
Most important, however, was staying clear of nationalism: “Let’s act with humane values and justice. Nationalism poisons each of us. It is only fed by ignorance,” he said.
As for the contributions of Turkey’s goodwill ambassador, Zülfü Livaneli, to the reconciliation process between Turkey and Greece, Hakverdian said he would be very happy to serve for the establishment of a bridge of peace between Turkey and Armenia.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
YEREVAN - Hürriyet Daily News
Turkish music companies have begun to move to secure the copyrights to the works of legendary Armenian artist Rupen Hakverdian, whose songs have been popular across Europe. Conveying his love to Turkish intellectuals working for reconciliation between Turks and Armenians, Hakverdian says, ‘Stay away from nationalism; ignorance feeds nationalism’
Armenian musician Rupen Hakverdian
Illustrating the cultural exchange that occurs despite continued political tension, the works of legendary Armenian musician Rupen Hakverdian are now set for release in the Turkish market as local companies queue to secure copyrights for the music.
“It makes me happy that my songs are being performed in different languages,” Hakverdian told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review in a recent interview in his house, in which he is preparing for a new album.
Although his works were banned during the Soviet era, Hakverdian’s music was nonetheless performed in languages as diverse as French and Czech.
Hakverdian said he had received many demands from Turkey to release his works in the country although he did not mention the names of the companies.
The demand for his songs points toward the larger trend of cross-cultural exchange. “Borders are closed but the way for intercultural interaction is open,” Hakverdian said, adding that Armenian culture in the present eponymous republic was largely under the effect of Turkish culture.
“What we call unique Armenian culture has been created by Istanbul-based western Armenians and Anatolian Armenians. Armenia does not have its own culture,” he said. “It has been affected by other cultures.”
Emphasizing his point, Hakverdian said Armenian artists had stolen Turkish and Azerbaijani music. “In the past, Armenian songs were stolen in Turkey but now it is the same in Armenia. This is a big mistake. We should not have repeated the same mistakes.”
Noting that many in Armenia would disagree with his statement, he said: “I wish I were mistaken but unfortunately, all I said is true. Of course intercultural exchange is possible, I am not against it but everything should have a style – stealing cannot be accepted.”
Furthermore, the constant Turkish and Armenian squabbling over the cultural ownership of anonymous songs was tiring, Hakverdian said.
“What is the point of discussing the ownership of anonymous songs? What is important is how they make us feel,” he said, pointing to a healthier attitude on the issue in the Balkans. “There is no fight for songs in the Balkans. This is why they have become richer in the cultural field.”
‘I am estranged from this city’
Despite numerous tours around the world, Hakverdian said he had never been to Turkey, but added that he would gladly come if he received an invitation.
Noting that many friends had migrated overseas after Armenia’s independence, Hakverdian said he felt alone, a feeling he shares in his songs with his listeners.
“I’ve become estranged from this city [Yerevan] and its people. I prefer to get in touch with an intellectual Turk rather than an ignorant Armenian,” he said. “What I want to say is that the human being comes first before [anything else]. Being able to find a common language with them is important.”
Hakverdian said he appreciated the recent steps taken by Turkish intellectuals to bring the peoples of the two countries together, sending them his love and greetings. “They are struggling for the peace of two peoples. They are worthy of appreciation.”
He said he had met many Turkish artists during his tours, having discussions with them.
Most important, however, was staying clear of nationalism: “Let’s act with humane values and justice. Nationalism poisons each of us. It is only fed by ignorance,” he said.
As for the contributions of Turkey’s goodwill ambassador, Zülfü Livaneli, to the reconciliation process between Turkey and Greece, Hakverdian said he would be very happy to serve for the establishment of a bridge of peace between Turkey and Armenia.
2 Ağustos 2010 Pazartesi
Patriarchate worried about mass preparation on E Turkish island
Patriarchate worried about mass preparation on E Turkish island
Monday, August 2, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
The historical Surp Haç Church on the Akdamar Island in the eastern city of Van will stage and important date for the Armenian community.
A Sept. 19 mass on Akdamar Island is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year for the Armenian community, yet questions over its organization are worrying some that preparations will not be completed in time.
The Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review has learned that the entire organization of the event at the historical Surp Haç Armenian Church on eastern Van’s Akdamar Island has been left to the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, which will be responsible for technical installation, projection systems and sound systems, as well as tents, which must be set up in order to protect visitors from the sun.
A delegation sent to the island ahead of the event said the current electricity infrastructure is highly deficient and voiced concern that the few weeks left until the event would not be enough to sort out the problems.
Speaking to the Daily News, Van Gov. Münir Karaloğlu said the Governor’s Office was doing everything it could to assist. “We have only left a portion of the organization to the patriarchate. I do not understand the criticism.”
Deputy Patriarch Archbishop Aram Ateşyan, however, had a different view. “Three weeks ago, we were officially told that the organization was to be done by the patriarchate,” he said. “Frankly, we were startled at first, as before they had said all work was to be done by the Governor’s Office. Now the Governor’s Office will only install a single generator on the island. That is all.”
Speaking to the Daily News on June 18, Karaloğlu said his office was working together with the patriarchate and added that there would be no problems. He also had said projection and sound systems would be installed on the island, a press center would be set up and 3G technologies would be utilized to ensure live broadcasts ran smoothly.
Karaloğlu said only the preparation of the mass would be organized by the Patriarchate.
“We have assumed responsibility of the other 25 organizational issues, including security,” he had said. “The Governor’s Office may also help with the transport to and lodging of visitors on the island. We are doing our best for the mass to run smoothly.”
Monday, August 2, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
The historical Surp Haç Church on the Akdamar Island in the eastern city of Van will stage and important date for the Armenian community.
A Sept. 19 mass on Akdamar Island is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year for the Armenian community, yet questions over its organization are worrying some that preparations will not be completed in time.
The Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review has learned that the entire organization of the event at the historical Surp Haç Armenian Church on eastern Van’s Akdamar Island has been left to the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, which will be responsible for technical installation, projection systems and sound systems, as well as tents, which must be set up in order to protect visitors from the sun.
A delegation sent to the island ahead of the event said the current electricity infrastructure is highly deficient and voiced concern that the few weeks left until the event would not be enough to sort out the problems.
Speaking to the Daily News, Van Gov. Münir Karaloğlu said the Governor’s Office was doing everything it could to assist. “We have only left a portion of the organization to the patriarchate. I do not understand the criticism.”
Deputy Patriarch Archbishop Aram Ateşyan, however, had a different view. “Three weeks ago, we were officially told that the organization was to be done by the patriarchate,” he said. “Frankly, we were startled at first, as before they had said all work was to be done by the Governor’s Office. Now the Governor’s Office will only install a single generator on the island. That is all.”
Speaking to the Daily News on June 18, Karaloğlu said his office was working together with the patriarchate and added that there would be no problems. He also had said projection and sound systems would be installed on the island, a press center would be set up and 3G technologies would be utilized to ensure live broadcasts ran smoothly.
Karaloğlu said only the preparation of the mass would be organized by the Patriarchate.
“We have assumed responsibility of the other 25 organizational issues, including security,” he had said. “The Governor’s Office may also help with the transport to and lodging of visitors on the island. We are doing our best for the mass to run smoothly.”
Prominent diaspora Armenians split on lawsuit against Turkey
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU, ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Although a majority of Armenians have supported a new U.S.-based lawsuit to claim compensation for land lost in 1915 in the late Ottoman Empire, some prominent academics and journalists from the community have criticized the measure.
“We cannot allow these individual steps to cause us to fall out with each other,” Ara Sarafian, a historian and director of the Gomidas Institute in London, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. “The Turkish people need to understand that these people do not represent the diaspora or the entire Armenian world. Just like Turkish nationalists, they’re trying to make Armenian nationalism.”
Echoing Sarafian’s statements, famous Professor Oshin Keshishian said: “Of course it’s important for Turkey to accept the genocide. However, it is very wrong to reduce this sensitive and hurtful event to material things.” Keshishian is the editor-in-chief of the Armenian Observer, a newspaper based in the United States.
Answering questions from the Daily News, Amaduni Virabian, the director of the National Archives of Armenia, said that although he believes the lawsuit has merit, he does not think it can achieve the desired results. Virabian expressed his pessimism on the matter, saying that he “knows” Turkey will not pay compensation.
On the other hand, Ruben Safrastian, director of the Armenia National Academy of Sciences Institute of Oriental Studies, said the lawsuit could be a way for Armenians to regain what was taken from them.
Commenting on whether or not the lawsuit will affect attempts to improve ties between Turks and Armenians, Safrastian said they were independent processes.
Meanwhile, Syrian-Armenian journalist Harout Ekmanian said, “I think the lawsuit must not only seek compensation, but allow the restoring of the right of return of diaspora Armenians to their ancestors’ homeland, and to guarantee their physical, cultural and political safety within the Republic of Turkey as a first step.”
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU, ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Although a majority of Armenians have supported a new U.S.-based lawsuit to claim compensation for land lost in 1915 in the late Ottoman Empire, some prominent academics and journalists from the community have criticized the measure.
“We cannot allow these individual steps to cause us to fall out with each other,” Ara Sarafian, a historian and director of the Gomidas Institute in London, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. “The Turkish people need to understand that these people do not represent the diaspora or the entire Armenian world. Just like Turkish nationalists, they’re trying to make Armenian nationalism.”
Echoing Sarafian’s statements, famous Professor Oshin Keshishian said: “Of course it’s important for Turkey to accept the genocide. However, it is very wrong to reduce this sensitive and hurtful event to material things.” Keshishian is the editor-in-chief of the Armenian Observer, a newspaper based in the United States.
Answering questions from the Daily News, Amaduni Virabian, the director of the National Archives of Armenia, said that although he believes the lawsuit has merit, he does not think it can achieve the desired results. Virabian expressed his pessimism on the matter, saying that he “knows” Turkey will not pay compensation.
On the other hand, Ruben Safrastian, director of the Armenia National Academy of Sciences Institute of Oriental Studies, said the lawsuit could be a way for Armenians to regain what was taken from them.
Commenting on whether or not the lawsuit will affect attempts to improve ties between Turks and Armenians, Safrastian said they were independent processes.
Meanwhile, Syrian-Armenian journalist Harout Ekmanian said, “I think the lawsuit must not only seek compensation, but allow the restoring of the right of return of diaspora Armenians to their ancestors’ homeland, and to guarantee their physical, cultural and political safety within the Republic of Turkey as a first step.”
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