Istanbul-Armenian Member of the Turkish Mejlis Garo Pailan has raised the issue of election of the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople and the elections within Armenian funds and foundations.

During the Budget Planning Committee’s discussion on the new tax laws and the new legislative regulations on funds and foundations, Pailan declared that the funds and foundations of the Armenian community have been deprived of the right to hold elections for five years.

“Five years ago, you deprived us of our right of suffrage. The funds and foundations of the community can’t hold elections. We can’t elect our patriarch for eight years running.”

Turkish Minister of Finance Naji Aghbal responded to Pailan with the following: “Who doesn’t allow it? Which ministry? I’ll talk to them.”

Pailan also touched upon the issue of Greek and Armenian abandoned churches in the territory of Turkey, stating that there used to be about 6,000 churches in eastern Turkey and that now there are only 80-90 churches. According to the Istanbul-Armenian MP, most of the 6,000 churches are abandoned and dilapidated. Some still have foundations, while others are on the verge of extinction. Pailan also emphasized that out of the 6,000 churches, 4,000 are registered under the names of individuals. According to Pailan, if the churches remain the way they are for another 10 years, nothing will be left of them.

The Istanbul-Armenian MP talked about the need for a special state policy to protect the histories of all nations living in Turkey.

“There are announcements reading “Church for Sale”. Is it possible to issue an announcement reading “Mosque for Sale”? From this perspective, there is a need for a state policy that will protect our common history, everyone’s history and the histories of all nations,” writes Ermenihaber.am.