Message From the Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II

[TurQ]

Could be true for the diasporan minds that had been taken hostage by the Dashnaksutyun for longtime.

And they say people who have been in hostage situations develop a sick attachment to their captors.

[Joseph]

I do not personally know the Turkish-Armenian Patriarch, so I will save my comments. He might not the best Patriarch to represent the interest of Turkish-Armenians, and if this is the case, I hope his successor will be a better one.

The general comment above about Turkish Armenians is, however, ignorant and shameful to say the least. I have personally known many Armenians in Turkey, and three of them, I continued to see when they moved out of Turkey to Switzerland (2), and France (1). All of their relatives were already living outside Turkey, so when they also moved, had no longer an organic and economic connection to Turkey. Still, they still 'play the Turkish tune', and have a deep love for modern Turks and Turkey. They are far and exempt from the accusations that 'they cannot speak their own minds from fear of their Turkish masters'.

You should therefore refrain from posting articles which insult and attack these honourable, patriotic, mostly devoutly Christian, and humanistic Armenians just because they cherish, understand, and even miss their Turkish friends, colleagues, and brethren. They will never, ever, be like you, and that is why I am so proud of them.

As there are about 70,000 Armenians left in Turkey (Istanbul with the vast majority), there are 70,000 different opinions regarding, Turkey, diaspora, Armenia, etc.
I myself have been to Turkey several times and my wife is a an Armenian born and raised in Izmir (one of the few). They have a pretty good life there but there are of course limitations and depending on the political climate, can be made to feel very uncomfortable. Being wealthier affords them some protection when things get tense and it also helps not to have Armenian names, they more or less blend in and try not to draw attention to themsleves but then again this is Izmir and not Istanbul (Istanbul is admittedly more cosmopolitan thus a lot safer).

One of the things about the diaspora community is that they have very little connection to Armenians who still reside in the western areas, by family or even culturally and furthermore have always been distant to each other. The Istanbul Armenians up to and during the genocide looked down upon the general Armenian population and still do to this day. They see us as villagers (despite the fact that Armenians in the east were often just as educated and involved in trades, etc) and the Armenians from the east see them as having no heart and as snobs. This continues forward but is not an uncommon phenonum (consider how Istanbul Turks consider those from say Kars). It is a complex issue and I'll write more later.

[Joseph]

I ahve heard similar things from other Istanbul Armenians who even live in France.
When I have time I'll find and post them.

I remember phantom saying similar things as well, like churches in Istanbul are a lot more active an crowded compared to those in US. If Phantom reads he might want to comment on this.

I have not been to France but can tell you the churches in the U.S., Brasil and Argentina are very active and many more communties in the U.S. are sprouting up and building churches.

[Joseph]

Who is "the world Armenian political leadership"??? I thought Armenia was expressly supporting Turkey's EU membership. Or is the real political leadership based somewhere else?

Actually, Armenia is in support of Turkey's membership

[Heat]

Armenian is that you?
noren yegar?
Ku forumut inchu ches genar?
Re-carnati hon kashesig mehk yegav luv ingerer mezi hos.

Armenian lives in the US and I don't, so wrongo.

[hitite]

Actually, Armenia is in support of Turkey's membership

Exactly, thats why I couldnt understand the part I quoted from the article. Who is the political leadership mentioned in the article then?

[Heat]

Actually, Armenia is in support of Turkey's membership

So am I.

Europe deserved to have 70 million savages cut loose on them for letting and even helping these savages devestate out country and our people.

[elendil]

Europe deserved to have 70 million savages cut loose on them for letting these savages devesatate out country and our people.

That is what I find strange about extreme nationalist Armenians, they really do hate every force in the world, even the ones that helped them out....

[TurQ]

They are terribily confused like the Dashnaks of 1910s

That is what I find strange about extreme nationalist Armenians, they really do hate every force in the world, even the ones that helped them out....

[Heat]

That is what I find strange about extreme nationalist Armenians, they really do hate every force in the world, even the ones that helped them out....

Helped us out by doing what? They gave the turks weapons that were used against Armenians. With freinds like that......