Armenians in Turkey 100 Years Ago book presentation in Yerevan

Osman Koker
Osman Koker

Yerevan, Armenia- Renowned Turkish journalist and historian Osman Koker will present his book Armenians in Turkey 100 Years Ago at the Small Auditorium of the American University of Armenia at 18:30 on Thursday, December 11, 2008. The presentation is made possible by the American University of Armenia’s Extension Programs, Eurasia Partnership Foundation and Anadolu Kültür.

The book, named Armenians in Turkey 100 Years Ago: postcards from the collection of Orlando Carlo Calumeno was issued in Turkey in 2005. The book contains century-old Ottoman post-cards depicting different aspects of the peaceful and, in many cases, prosperous life of the Armenian community in the former Ottoman Empire. Through 500 postcards from the period, the album endeavors to show, city by city and with supporting figures, how omnipresent Armenian communities were across the Ottoman territory and their role in society. In parallel with the book, an exhibition of the postcards called “Sireli Yeğpayris” (My Dear Brother) was held in Istanbul and a number of other European cities.

“In Turkey, the history of one people – the Turks – has always been taught, as if there had never been any other people on the territory. When we speak of Armenians, they are not described as an integral group in society but as a source of problems. It’s to fill this void that I have decided to publish a book.” – says Mr. Koker in an interview with Agence France-Presse.

Osman Koker is founder and editor-in-chief of Birzamanlar Publications, publishing books about Turkey’s multicultural heritage, and its vanishing. He was born in Maraş, and has worked for many years as a correspondent, editor, and publisher. His work has focused on the publication of historical subjects; between the years of 1997-2001, he was the editor of “Toplumsal Tarih” (Social History), published by Tarih Vakfi (Foundation of History). Throughout Turkey and in various other countries, he has made presentations on the history of the Armenian people in Turkey.

The American University of Armenia is located at 40 Baghramyan Avenue in Yerevan. Admission is free. Translation from Turkish into Armenian will be provided.

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