Margar Yesayan, who is representing Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as an Armenian candidate, has announced that the key issue of the Turkish-Armenian community is internal organization.

In an interview with Istanbul’s Armenian Agos Weekly, Yesayan touched upon various issues on Turkey’s agenda, including the issues related to the Turkish-Armenian community and the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, writes ermenihaber.am.

The Armenian candidate representing the AKP mentioned that there used to be the 1863 Armenian statute (in the Ottoman Empire-ed.) and that the Armenian mejlis was created on the basis of that statute. The Armenian mejlis was quite democratic and organized life within the Armenian community. However, that mejlis was disbanded in the era of the single-party system in Turkey, the Armenians were deprived of a legal body that would solve their issues and make important decisions.

Yesayan voiced hope that a similar civic council could be recreated in modern-day Turkey.

“I hope it is possible to see the creation of a civic council alongside the granting of a legal status to the patriarchate, the election of new owners of foundations through democratic elections and, most importantly, the collaboration with the patriarchate, which determines the policy of the Armenian community.”

Touching upon the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the AKP deputy candidate mentioned that Turkey was in a good situation in that regard. He recalled the condolence messages that have been issued over the past two years and noted that there was no more denial on the part of the President and the Prime Minister in Turkey. He added that the taboo on discussion on the genocide had been lifted in terms of law and psychology.

“The government has seriously changed its approach to the events of 1915, and this means that it has put an end to the denial. Over the past 13 years, the government has refused to present the Armenians as the enemy and foreigners.”

Margar Yesayan also expressed the opinion that if the AKP remains in power for the next 10-15 years, there will be no Armenian Question in Turkey in 5 to 10 years.