Teachers in quake-hit Van start their post
VAN - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
The Turkish Housing Development Administration’s (TOKİ) has recently completed new housings in Van, which will be distributed to the victims of the earthquake.
The young teachers newly appointed to positions in the eastern province of Van, which was devastated by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake last year, are happy because to able to start their jobs after a long waiting period, but they are also concerned about the scarcity of available houses in the area.
“I have been waiting to be appointed for two years. In the draw, Van was the duty assignment selected for me. I am aware that students here need education, but there is the problem of finding a place to stay. I have not been able to find a place to rent, and the Teachers Lodging building collapsed in the earthquake,” said 23-year-old English teacher Tuğba T. from İzmir, who wished to remain anonymous because she is a public employee.
Tuğba T. is required to fulfill three years of compulsory service in Van. “I am alone. This is my first time in the eastern provinces. I have some concerns about safety,” she said.
“Because there are no houses available for rent, the authorities have suggested that we live in container homes in the container cities. I would have to share a container with another teacher. I don’t know what will happen,” Tuğba T. said.
28-year old mathematics teacher Melek Y. says she waited four years before being appointed to Van. “It will take us a full year before we settle into houses. We will be temporarily accommodated in container cities. Because of the scarcity of housing, we will share our containers with other teachers. I believe our living conditions will be tough,” she said.
Thirty-five-year-old Banu A., a literature teacher, said she did not have a problem finding accommodation because her husband is a police officer. “We have a place to stay in police housing. Many of my fellow teachers are having problems finding accommodations. No one is complaining about having been appointed to the east, but this accommodation issue calls for an immediate solution.”
There is no major accommodation issue, Van Governor Münir Karaloğlu told Hürriyet Daily News.
September/14/2012
14 Eylül 2012 Cuma
13 Eylül 2012 Perşembe
Minister ‘wants’ to attend masses
VAN - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Turkish Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay has said that in the coming years he would like to attend masses in those long-dormant churches that have been reopened during his term in office.
Günay attended a groundbreaking ceremony at the Urartu Museum, which is to be opened in the eastern province of Van. Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News, Günay commented on his 10 years in office.
“We not only reopened Sümela [in Trabzon] and Surp Haç [in Van], but also opened the Church of St. Nicholas located in Demre [in Antalya] for religious services. From Alevis to Greeks and from Armenians to Sunnis, we wanted to revive mutual awareness and the will to live together. This is [the Justice and Development Party] AKP’s main goal. It is true that I did not attend [those services which have already taken place in the reopened churches] but I would like to attend future ones,” Günay said.
With Günay’s approval, historic Sümela Monastery, located in the Black Sea province of Trabzon, was reopened in 2010. After that, Surp Haç (Holy Cross) Church, located in the eastern province of Van, was opened for religious services once a year just after its restoration was completed.
Günay also commented on the sculpture “Monument to Humanity,” which was erected in the eastern province of Kars and dedicated to Turkish-Armenian friendship, and was removed after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called it “freakish” and demanded its removal.
“They [the AKP] have supported me in all my work, but of course there have been some issues. The humanity monument was one of the biggest of these. Politics and art should not have conflicted with each other in that way; I did not want a work of art to be called ‘freakish,’ but the press forced the prime minister to use this word,” Günay said, when asked whether he had encountered difficulties during his term in office.
“It is true that I have leftist tendencies, but the AKP includes people with different views. It was a newly founded party then, and it turned a new page for me,” Günay said.
September/13/2012
VAN - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Turkish Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay has said that in the coming years he would like to attend masses in those long-dormant churches that have been reopened during his term in office.
Günay attended a groundbreaking ceremony at the Urartu Museum, which is to be opened in the eastern province of Van. Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News, Günay commented on his 10 years in office.
“We not only reopened Sümela [in Trabzon] and Surp Haç [in Van], but also opened the Church of St. Nicholas located in Demre [in Antalya] for religious services. From Alevis to Greeks and from Armenians to Sunnis, we wanted to revive mutual awareness and the will to live together. This is [the Justice and Development Party] AKP’s main goal. It is true that I did not attend [those services which have already taken place in the reopened churches] but I would like to attend future ones,” Günay said.
With Günay’s approval, historic Sümela Monastery, located in the Black Sea province of Trabzon, was reopened in 2010. After that, Surp Haç (Holy Cross) Church, located in the eastern province of Van, was opened for religious services once a year just after its restoration was completed.
Günay also commented on the sculpture “Monument to Humanity,” which was erected in the eastern province of Kars and dedicated to Turkish-Armenian friendship, and was removed after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called it “freakish” and demanded its removal.
“They [the AKP] have supported me in all my work, but of course there have been some issues. The humanity monument was one of the biggest of these. Politics and art should not have conflicted with each other in that way; I did not want a work of art to be called ‘freakish,’ but the press forced the prime minister to use this word,” Günay said, when asked whether he had encountered difficulties during his term in office.
“It is true that I have leftist tendencies, but the AKP includes people with different views. It was a newly founded party then, and it turned a new page for me,” Günay said.
September/13/2012
CHP to carry Zirve trial to Parliament
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Main opposition CHP’s deputy leader Sezgin Tanrıkulu is preparing to put forward questions in Parliament about why the Zirve massacre case has not progressed. DAILY NEWS photo, Emrah GÜREL
The Malatya Zirve Publishing House massacre case will be on the agenda of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) when the new parliamentary term starts on Oct. 1.
CHP deputy leader Sezgin Tanrıkulu is preparing to put forward questions in Parliament about why the case has not progressed yet and about the two judges and two prosecutors who were removed from duty on Sept. 1, two days before a critical hearing in the case.
The prosecutors and judges, who had been following the case for five years, were dismissed from the case and assigned to other duties due to the abolishment of the Law about Specially Authorized Courts as part of the third judicial package legislated by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government.
Tanrıkulu told the Hürriyet Daily News that the dismissal of the judges and prosecutors would doubtless affect the case’s progress. “There is an indictment consisting of thousands of pages. Above all, they had been following the case for five years. That means some people do not want the case to be resolved,” Tanrıkulu said.
Three missionaries - German citizen Tillman Geske and two Turks, Necati Aydın and Uğur Yüksel - were tied up and tortured before their throats were slit at the Zirve Publishing House, a Christian publisher in the eastern province of Malatya, on April 18, 2007.
“From the Father Santoro murder committed in [the Black Sea province of] Trabzon to the Hrant Dink murder, and from the Zirve Publishing House massacre to the murder of a bishop in [the Mediterranean province of] İskenderun, all these murders display signs that they were committed by ultranationalists. It is clear that the deep state had a hand in these incidents, but the AKP does not try to shed light on them,” Tanrıkulu said.
He added that they were collecting data from the lawyers following the Zirve massacre case, and also working on a report that would be presented to Parliament.
Kurdish issue is a dilemma
Tanrıkulu also expressed his views on the Kurdish issue and the Heybeliada Halki seminary. He warned that abolishing the political immunity of Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputies would be of no use. “The Democratic Society Party (DEP) was closed in 1994, and its deputies were jailed, the result of this is evident. Abolishing the political immunities of BDP deputies would mean repeating the same mistake,” Tanrıkulu said. Tanrıkulu also said the CHP was ready to give any kind of support for the reopening of the Halki Seminary, but the AKP’s attitude toward the subject was not clear.“Politicians should leave prejudices aside and must immediately intervene [in the issue]. … Turkey is not on the right track in terms of either foreign policy or civil peace,” Tanrıkulu said.
September/12/2012
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Main opposition CHP’s deputy leader Sezgin Tanrıkulu is preparing to put forward questions in Parliament about why the Zirve massacre case has not progressed. DAILY NEWS photo, Emrah GÜREL
The Malatya Zirve Publishing House massacre case will be on the agenda of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) when the new parliamentary term starts on Oct. 1.
CHP deputy leader Sezgin Tanrıkulu is preparing to put forward questions in Parliament about why the case has not progressed yet and about the two judges and two prosecutors who were removed from duty on Sept. 1, two days before a critical hearing in the case.
The prosecutors and judges, who had been following the case for five years, were dismissed from the case and assigned to other duties due to the abolishment of the Law about Specially Authorized Courts as part of the third judicial package legislated by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government.
Tanrıkulu told the Hürriyet Daily News that the dismissal of the judges and prosecutors would doubtless affect the case’s progress. “There is an indictment consisting of thousands of pages. Above all, they had been following the case for five years. That means some people do not want the case to be resolved,” Tanrıkulu said.
Three missionaries - German citizen Tillman Geske and two Turks, Necati Aydın and Uğur Yüksel - were tied up and tortured before their throats were slit at the Zirve Publishing House, a Christian publisher in the eastern province of Malatya, on April 18, 2007.
“From the Father Santoro murder committed in [the Black Sea province of] Trabzon to the Hrant Dink murder, and from the Zirve Publishing House massacre to the murder of a bishop in [the Mediterranean province of] İskenderun, all these murders display signs that they were committed by ultranationalists. It is clear that the deep state had a hand in these incidents, but the AKP does not try to shed light on them,” Tanrıkulu said.
He added that they were collecting data from the lawyers following the Zirve massacre case, and also working on a report that would be presented to Parliament.
Kurdish issue is a dilemma
Tanrıkulu also expressed his views on the Kurdish issue and the Heybeliada Halki seminary. He warned that abolishing the political immunity of Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputies would be of no use. “The Democratic Society Party (DEP) was closed in 1994, and its deputies were jailed, the result of this is evident. Abolishing the political immunities of BDP deputies would mean repeating the same mistake,” Tanrıkulu said. Tanrıkulu also said the CHP was ready to give any kind of support for the reopening of the Halki Seminary, but the AKP’s attitude toward the subject was not clear.“Politicians should leave prejudices aside and must immediately intervene [in the issue]. … Turkey is not on the right track in terms of either foreign policy or civil peace,” Tanrıkulu said.
September/12/2012
Christian group ‘will be’ OK with Brotherhood
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
A general view shows a damaged church in the neighbourhood of old Homs. REUTERS photo
A recently established council bringing together Syria’s Christian minority groups in Syria has no fear of a possible Muslim Brotherhood rule in the country, according to a prominent member.
“We want to live as equal citizens and with equal rights all over the Middle East, especially in Syria,” Bassam Ishak, leader of the Damascus-based Liberal Party, told the Hürriyet Daily News on behalf of the council after announcing the establishment of the “Syrian Syriac National Council” on Sept. 8.
Over 30 political parties, non-governmental organizations, and women’s organizations, including the European Syriac Union, the Syriac American Association and the Syriac Movement have joined together to form the council.
The council’s headquarters will be in Damascus, while another office is planned to be opened in Ankara.
Ishak, who is also a member of the Syrian National Council (SNC), said the council should not be seen as supporting one side in the Syrian conflict.
“The [Bashar] al-Assad regime is oppressive,” Ishak said. “We have no hesitation about the Muslim Brotherhood’s rule over the region; we are ready to support them. Along with this, we don’t want our council to be understood as a supporter of an opponent or a sided organization.
We will only convey our people’s democratic demands. Even though we support [the opposition], we are not for or against anyone. We will only fight for our people’s future.”
Importance of Istanbul
Declaring the council’s opening in Istanbul had great historic importance for its members, Ishak said. “A part of our people is still living here. Geographically, this is the closest location to Syria and the Anatolian territories where we have lived for thousands of years.”
Asked why the council plans to open an office in Turkey, Ishak said “Turkey is our neighbor, and also an example in terms of democracy, so we want to build good relations [with Turkey].” Although Syriac Christians have had painful experiences with Turkey in the past, they do not want to remain trapped in the past, he said.
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
A general view shows a damaged church in the neighbourhood of old Homs. REUTERS photo
A recently established council bringing together Syria’s Christian minority groups in Syria has no fear of a possible Muslim Brotherhood rule in the country, according to a prominent member.
“We want to live as equal citizens and with equal rights all over the Middle East, especially in Syria,” Bassam Ishak, leader of the Damascus-based Liberal Party, told the Hürriyet Daily News on behalf of the council after announcing the establishment of the “Syrian Syriac National Council” on Sept. 8.
Over 30 political parties, non-governmental organizations, and women’s organizations, including the European Syriac Union, the Syriac American Association and the Syriac Movement have joined together to form the council.
The council’s headquarters will be in Damascus, while another office is planned to be opened in Ankara.
Ishak, who is also a member of the Syrian National Council (SNC), said the council should not be seen as supporting one side in the Syrian conflict.
“The [Bashar] al-Assad regime is oppressive,” Ishak said. “We have no hesitation about the Muslim Brotherhood’s rule over the region; we are ready to support them. Along with this, we don’t want our council to be understood as a supporter of an opponent or a sided organization.
We will only convey our people’s democratic demands. Even though we support [the opposition], we are not for or against anyone. We will only fight for our people’s future.”
Importance of Istanbul
Declaring the council’s opening in Istanbul had great historic importance for its members, Ishak said. “A part of our people is still living here. Geographically, this is the closest location to Syria and the Anatolian territories where we have lived for thousands of years.”
Asked why the council plans to open an office in Turkey, Ishak said “Turkey is our neighbor, and also an example in terms of democracy, so we want to build good relations [with Turkey].” Although Syriac Christians have had painful experiences with Turkey in the past, they do not want to remain trapped in the past, he said.
Historical church to host 3rd divine liturgy
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Armenian Christians will go to the historic Surp Haç Church to pray today in celebration. AA photo
The historic Surp Haç (Holy Cross) Armenian Church-Museum, located on the eastern province of Van’s Akdamar Island, will hosti a religious ceremony for the third time with the Surp Haç (Holy Cross) liturgy on Sept. 9.
Along with Archbishop Khajag Barsamian of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United States, people from Istanbul, Armenia and the diaspora are expected to attend the liturgy. Acting Patriarch Archbishop Aram Ateşyan will lead the ceremony on behalf of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey. The preparations for the ceremony have been continuing for the past month.
The historic church, which became a museum after being restored in 2007, was opened for a religious service for the first time in September 2010, when the Turkish government permitted Armenians to organize a religious ceremony in the church once a year.
Last year’s divine liturgy attracted fewer worshipers due to tensions between Turkey, Armenia and the diaspora over the lack of a cross atop Sur Haç.
The cross, which was made by Armenian craftsmen and delivered to Turkey’s Armenian Patriarchate two years ago, was placed on top of the church dome with the approval of Turkey’s Culture Ministry just after the liturgy last year.
September/08/2012
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Armenian Christians will go to the historic Surp Haç Church to pray today in celebration. AA photo
The historic Surp Haç (Holy Cross) Armenian Church-Museum, located on the eastern province of Van’s Akdamar Island, will hosti a religious ceremony for the third time with the Surp Haç (Holy Cross) liturgy on Sept. 9.
Along with Archbishop Khajag Barsamian of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United States, people from Istanbul, Armenia and the diaspora are expected to attend the liturgy. Acting Patriarch Archbishop Aram Ateşyan will lead the ceremony on behalf of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey. The preparations for the ceremony have been continuing for the past month.
The historic church, which became a museum after being restored in 2007, was opened for a religious service for the first time in September 2010, when the Turkish government permitted Armenians to organize a religious ceremony in the church once a year.
Last year’s divine liturgy attracted fewer worshipers due to tensions between Turkey, Armenia and the diaspora over the lack of a cross atop Sur Haç.
The cross, which was made by Armenian craftsmen and delivered to Turkey’s Armenian Patriarchate two years ago, was placed on top of the church dome with the approval of Turkey’s Culture Ministry just after the liturgy last year.
September/08/2012
10 Eylül 2012 Pazartesi
Journalists tried in fresh wave of KCK case today
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News-Vercihan Ziflioğlu
As the third indictment involving several journalists in Kurdistan Communities Union case starts to be seen today, suspects and lawyers of the case complain about decreasing public interest in the hearings
Prominent publisher Ragıp Zarakolu is on his way to visit his son Deniz Zarakolu, who has been under arrest for about a year as part of the same case in Silivri Prison.
As an Istanbul court starts hearing the third indictment in the ongoing Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) case today in which 44 suspects, including a number of journalists, are being tried, many are complaining about the decreasing public interest in the case.
Some 44 suspects, 36 of them arrested pending trial, are currently facing charges in the 800-page indictment that was unanimously accepted by the court in May 2012. The suspects are charged with leading a terrorist organization, being a member of a terrorist organization, and being a member of the press committee of a terrorist organization. The suspects include daily Vatan reporter Çağdaş Ulus and daily Birgün reporter Zeynep Kuray.
Publisher, author and human rights activist Ragıp Zarakolu, who was released pending trial within the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) case in April, has complained about the decreasing public interest in the case, after the release of the most prominent figures.
Visit to Silivri prison
On Sept. 5, Ragıp Zarakolu visited his son Deniz Zarakolu, who has been under arrest for about a year as part of the same case, in Silivri No: 2 F-type prison. After their meeting, which lasted for two hours, Ragıp Zarakolu spoke to the Hürriyet Daily News. He stated that he had been arrested for a speech he made at a conference four years ago, while his son was arrested due to courses he had given at the Peace and Democracy Party’s (BDP) politics academy.
“I am not a militant and did not raise my son as a militant. My son was giving courses to a legal party that was supposed to be under the safeguard of the Republic of Turkey. If this party is illegal, then I would like to ask if the state laid a trap for us.” Zarakolu said, adding that after he and Prof. Büşra Ersanlı were released, public interest in the case began to wane.
“I feel like I was used. I think my arrest was a conspiracy. The state just wanted to give the impression that it had accepted its mistakes. This hurts me,” Zarakolu said.
Ragıp Zarakolu and 14 others were released on April 10 due to their time spent incarcerated since arrest and the state of the evidence. Professor Büşra Ersanlı and 15 other suspects in the KCK case were also released on July 13.Zarakolu said he had ended his protest of silence, which he had begun after his release on April 10, for his son.
Meanwhile, one of the lawyers in the case, Davut Erkan, said the indictment had no legal basis and that the journalists were being charged for reporting the stories of Kurdish people, daily Evrensel reported yesterday.
September/10/2012
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News-Vercihan Ziflioğlu
As the third indictment involving several journalists in Kurdistan Communities Union case starts to be seen today, suspects and lawyers of the case complain about decreasing public interest in the hearings
Prominent publisher Ragıp Zarakolu is on his way to visit his son Deniz Zarakolu, who has been under arrest for about a year as part of the same case in Silivri Prison.
As an Istanbul court starts hearing the third indictment in the ongoing Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) case today in which 44 suspects, including a number of journalists, are being tried, many are complaining about the decreasing public interest in the case.
Some 44 suspects, 36 of them arrested pending trial, are currently facing charges in the 800-page indictment that was unanimously accepted by the court in May 2012. The suspects are charged with leading a terrorist organization, being a member of a terrorist organization, and being a member of the press committee of a terrorist organization. The suspects include daily Vatan reporter Çağdaş Ulus and daily Birgün reporter Zeynep Kuray.
Publisher, author and human rights activist Ragıp Zarakolu, who was released pending trial within the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) case in April, has complained about the decreasing public interest in the case, after the release of the most prominent figures.
Visit to Silivri prison
On Sept. 5, Ragıp Zarakolu visited his son Deniz Zarakolu, who has been under arrest for about a year as part of the same case, in Silivri No: 2 F-type prison. After their meeting, which lasted for two hours, Ragıp Zarakolu spoke to the Hürriyet Daily News. He stated that he had been arrested for a speech he made at a conference four years ago, while his son was arrested due to courses he had given at the Peace and Democracy Party’s (BDP) politics academy.
“I am not a militant and did not raise my son as a militant. My son was giving courses to a legal party that was supposed to be under the safeguard of the Republic of Turkey. If this party is illegal, then I would like to ask if the state laid a trap for us.” Zarakolu said, adding that after he and Prof. Büşra Ersanlı were released, public interest in the case began to wane.
“I feel like I was used. I think my arrest was a conspiracy. The state just wanted to give the impression that it had accepted its mistakes. This hurts me,” Zarakolu said.
Ragıp Zarakolu and 14 others were released on April 10 due to their time spent incarcerated since arrest and the state of the evidence. Professor Büşra Ersanlı and 15 other suspects in the KCK case were also released on July 13.Zarakolu said he had ended his protest of silence, which he had begun after his release on April 10, for his son.
Meanwhile, one of the lawyers in the case, Davut Erkan, said the indictment had no legal basis and that the journalists were being charged for reporting the stories of Kurdish people, daily Evrensel reported yesterday.
September/10/2012
4 Eylül 2012 Salı
Piano melodies to echo at historic Armenian church
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Canadian pianist Raffi Bedrosyan will give a piano recital at Diyarbakır’s Surp (Holy) Iragos Armenian Church, which was reopened to worship last October.
Some 97 years after being closed, the historical Surp (Holy) Giragos Armenian Church in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır was reopened to worship last October. Now, the church will host a piano recital.
After also working hard in the restoration of the church himself, the Istanbul-born Canadian pianist Raffi Bedrosyan will perform in the concert. In an e-mail interview, Bedrosyan told the Hürriyet Daily News that the concert was “more significant to me than all my previous concerts in north America.”
“With this concert I want to show that this restored church is not only a silent monument, but an active, living center bringing people together for a peaceful future,” said Bedrosyan.
“Besides, the church will become a future religious and cultural center attracting Armenian pilgrims and tourists, enhancing dialogue between Armenians and people of Turkey.”
He said he was in continuous contact with quite a few liberal-minded people in Turkey, who share the same goal of a more democratized government, unafraid of facing past injustices.
First concert since 1915
“I am optimistic that the number of these people is increasing daily. I believe we need to increase opportunities for dialogue, cultural and academic interactions between Armenians and people of Turkey, especially for young people, so that the widespread discrimination and intolerance toward Armenians will be diminished in Turkey,” Bedrosyan said. “I am so excited for this concert.” “It will be the first concert by an Armenian since 1915. The Turkish word ‘çalmak’ has two meanings, ‘to steal,’ or ‘to play a musical instrument,” he added. “The first meaning of the word took place in this church in 1915, when Diyarbakır Governor Reşit, after massacring the entire Diyarbakir Armenian population, brought all the stolen valuable Armenian possessions to Surp Giragos Church, including several pianos.
Now 97 years later, I wish to implement the second meaning of the word, by giving this concert in the same church.”
During the concert Bedrosyan will play pieces from both Armenian and Western classical composers. Among the guests at the concert, there will be a group of 70 Armenians from the Diaspora, led by Archishop Khajag Barsamian of the Eastern Diocese of the United States. Before the concert, the group will first take part in Van Akhtamar Island’s Surp Khac Church-Museum divine liturgy. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is also expected to attend the concert. The concert will take place on Sept. 10 and will be open to public.
September/04/2012
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Canadian pianist Raffi Bedrosyan will give a piano recital at Diyarbakır’s Surp (Holy) Iragos Armenian Church, which was reopened to worship last October.
Some 97 years after being closed, the historical Surp (Holy) Giragos Armenian Church in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır was reopened to worship last October. Now, the church will host a piano recital.
After also working hard in the restoration of the church himself, the Istanbul-born Canadian pianist Raffi Bedrosyan will perform in the concert. In an e-mail interview, Bedrosyan told the Hürriyet Daily News that the concert was “more significant to me than all my previous concerts in north America.”
“With this concert I want to show that this restored church is not only a silent monument, but an active, living center bringing people together for a peaceful future,” said Bedrosyan.
“Besides, the church will become a future religious and cultural center attracting Armenian pilgrims and tourists, enhancing dialogue between Armenians and people of Turkey.”
He said he was in continuous contact with quite a few liberal-minded people in Turkey, who share the same goal of a more democratized government, unafraid of facing past injustices.
First concert since 1915
“I am optimistic that the number of these people is increasing daily. I believe we need to increase opportunities for dialogue, cultural and academic interactions between Armenians and people of Turkey, especially for young people, so that the widespread discrimination and intolerance toward Armenians will be diminished in Turkey,” Bedrosyan said. “I am so excited for this concert.” “It will be the first concert by an Armenian since 1915. The Turkish word ‘çalmak’ has two meanings, ‘to steal,’ or ‘to play a musical instrument,” he added. “The first meaning of the word took place in this church in 1915, when Diyarbakır Governor Reşit, after massacring the entire Diyarbakir Armenian population, brought all the stolen valuable Armenian possessions to Surp Giragos Church, including several pianos.
Now 97 years later, I wish to implement the second meaning of the word, by giving this concert in the same church.”
During the concert Bedrosyan will play pieces from both Armenian and Western classical composers. Among the guests at the concert, there will be a group of 70 Armenians from the Diaspora, led by Archishop Khajag Barsamian of the Eastern Diocese of the United States. Before the concert, the group will first take part in Van Akhtamar Island’s Surp Khac Church-Museum divine liturgy. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is also expected to attend the concert. The concert will take place on Sept. 10 and will be open to public.
September/04/2012
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