Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

Let Us Not Be Critical of Armenians in Turkey
by The Armenian Reporter International: Editorial - 12/30/2000
Posted: Friday, January 05, 2001 10:26 am CST

e-mail address: armenianreporter@msn.com

His Beatitude Mesrop Mutafyan, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey, is a dedicated clergyman who very frequently responds to requests for interviews by the Turkish press. And, invariably most of the questions posed to him relate to anti-Turkish Armenian activities in the Diaspora, to ensure that Western countries recognize the Armenian Genocide. The Patriarch, almost always, tells his interviewers know that he is opposed to these activities of Diaspora Armenians, arguing that, as citizens of Turkey, the Turkish Armenians are loyal citizens and will act in the interests of the country of which they are citizens.

This stand of the Patriarch apparently has angered certain Armenian columnists, some of whom are known for their Tashnag upbringing, who continually attack him for his comments given to the Turkish press.

These columnists ignore the fact that Armenians living in Turkey, including His Beatitude the Patriarch, have little choice but to conduct themselves accordingly. Those who criticize the Patriarch and Turkish Armenians ignore this predicament, which is understood by the large majority of Diaspora Armenians. Apparently it is expedient for such columnists to sit in the safety of their homes and criticize the actions of Armenians in Turkey! It would be quite interesting to know what they would do if they were in their place.

We should understand the situation of Armenians in Turkey, including that of His Beatitude, and refrain from making their lives more difficult.

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