Armenian women of Turkey’s Hamshen have publicly expressed their support to the autonomy declared by the Kurds, reports Akunq.net, citing Bestanuce1.com.

According to the source, in an interview with Bestanuce1.com, member of the HATIK Hamshen-Armenian Union of Istanbul Elif Altounkaya mentioned that the nations of the Black Sea region feel the need for the autonomy declared in the cities of Sur, Jizreh, sylvan, Varto and other cities the most and said the following: “The sons of the sea and the sons of the mountains must defend their autonomy by fighting hand-in-hand.”

Attempts are being made to eliminate the language, culture, rivers and yaylas of the Armenians of Hamshen in the eastern sector of the Black Sea region. Elif Altounkaya emphasized that that is the reason why autonomy will especially become an appropriate form of governance for the nations of the Black Sea protecting their nature and language.

Elif also informed that he began to discover his native language and culture during his years of study at the university and stressed the fact that he had been influenced by the Kurds’ struggle for freedom.

“My Kurdish-speaking friends were fighting for their native language. My family members would also speak in a foreign language. We learned Kurdish first. Why shouldn’t it be the language of instruction for us?” the Hamshen-Armenian woman added.

Elif mentioned that the HATIK Union of Armenians of Hamshen has been established in Istanbul (the Union was established in 2011-Akunk ed.) and informed: “The Kurds showed what self-organization is about.”

Elif also emphasized that the policy of intimidation during the Armenian Genocide of 1915 also had a great impact on the Armenians of Hamshen and mentioned the following: “The Armenian used in Hamshen is one of the dialects of the Armenian language, and the Armenians were massacred. There hasn’t been any struggle for many years now. However, the demands of the Kurds and the struggle showed all nations how important self-organization is. Currently, there are people robbing in the Black Sea region, without taking into consideration the people living in that region. The hydro-electric station projects and the quotas on teas show that life is becoming difficult for every resident. This means that we need autonomy the most. The only path to preservation of the language, culture and nature protection for the citizens of Hamshen is autonomy. The autonomy declared in Kurdistan should set an example for the citizens of Hamshen. The nations considered as foreigners in Turkey have no other choice. They need to become self-organized. We also need to lay the foundations for autonomy in order to protect our nature and defend our identity.”

Meline Anumyan

Akunq.net