Only 18% of Armenian community of Istanbul know Armenian languageNovember 15, 2010 - 15:29 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkologist Ruben Melkonyan said that the Armenian community of Turkey faces numerous problems, including the problem of education. Around 47 Armenian schools operated in Istanbul in 1970ies. Presently, there are 16 schools with 3,000 Armenians studying there, Melkonyan told a press conference in Yerevan. “Armenia’s history is not taught in schools, while children should study Turkey’s history. Besides, teachers of Armenian schools are unable to teach in Armenian language, thus, almost all lessons are conducted in Turkish,” Melkonyan said, adding that it is a part of Turkish policy. Melkonyan went on saying: “I have been in several Armenian schools in Istanbul. I asked students why they do not speak Armenian. Their answer was very simple: “If even our teachers do not speak Armenian, how can we do it?” He said that, according to a social poll, only 18% of the Armenian community of Istanbul knows Armenian language and uses it. Melkonyan also pointed to another problem – mixed marriages among representatives of the Armenian community of Istanbul, which currently make around 40%. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Police try to impede Armenian Church head’s access to war memorial Police tried to stop the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, from visiting a war memorial. Greece says ready to help as Armenia fights flooding consequences Greece is ready to assist Armenia in combatting the consequences of deadly floods in the country’s north. “He will leave”: Protest leader no longer demands meeting with Pashinyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan no longer demands a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. |