Monday, September 22 2014

 As supposed, on the threshold of the centennial anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Turkey is doing active work with various structures of Armenian Diaspora and church organizations, turcologist Ruben Melkonyan, Deputy Dean of the Oriental Studies Faculty at the Yerevan State University, has told ArmInfo. He thinks that Turkish President Recep Erdogan's intention to meet with Head of the Armenian Apostolic Church's Eastern Diocese of America Archbishop Khazhak Barsamyan should be considered in this context.    

Melkonyan thinks that Turkey will not revise its policy on denial of the Armenian Genocide. "On the other hand, there will be attempts to throw dust into the eyes of the Armenians worldwide by means of various measures, for instance, returning part of the property to the Christian churches in Turkey's territory. Ankara will do it with special grandiosity, advertising and shows", he says.  

The expert qualifies the recent statement of Aram I, Head of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, as a useful decision, however, its consequences and final benefit for Armenia are not clear.  

To recall, at the Armenia-Diaspora Forum in Yerevan, Aram I announced his intention to apply to the Constitutional Court of Turkey to return the Catholicosate building in Sis to the Christian church. He stressed that he will also apply to the European Court of Human Rights if the Turkish Constitutional Court rejects his claim. Aram I stressed the need to constantly remind the people, international community and Turkey that Armenia demands restoration of its rights.  

Melkonyan thinks that Turkey may return some buildings and land plots in Sis to the Armenian Church.  "However, Sis lacks both Armenian community and Armenian churches, i.e. the efficiency of that decision may be too low for us, while the diplomatic effect for Turkey will be much more significant", says Melkonyan.