Diaries 2005

10.08.05
We arrived to İstanbul late at the night. We were taken to Bilgi university dormitory tos tay the night. Late at night we were walking all around the dorm searching fort he spring waterç Finally we found it. We woke uo early in the morning a 8 a.m. and had a nice walk around the city, we passed the bridge and visited a beautiful mosque. That was very interesting, cause i was first time form e to visit a mosque, and it was really impressive cause it quite differs from what we are used to. At 10.30 we had breakfast and went to HCA Office. Fortunatelly we could call home from there and had nice walk in city, we visited the shops :) then we went to airport, flow to adana. And were sitting in the bus to Antakya, a ride that seemed never ending. But we found nice way to rest, we are singing all the way. After we arrive and had diner. İ went to bed, became fast asleep. 

11.08.05
It was the first “working” summer – school day. We had very nice lectures, ecpecially I value the ideas about history of Murat Belge, what I agree alot, but still there was much new to learn. 

The group work topic was also interesting “ Merriige procces – Armenia, Turkey “ and ......
....... to learn that it is that much a like.
Naturaly, the best time we spent was at night. We went down town for discotec and I beileve that everyone enjoyed it a lot.
As after return to the hotel we still had lots of energe and no one was going to sleep, we get bored in room 153. Played guitar and say national ( Turkish, Armenian ), international (American) songs, even Russian "Kalinka" and Jaish "Hava Nagila"
And only when everybody was really asleep, we went to sleep. So that is the justification that so many people were late in the morning.

12.08.05
Yesterday we had ........ interesting trip: visiting the museums, waterfall, expecially I liked it St. Pierre Church. As I learned there was one the first churches, made in the cuve.

..... all visiting way also interesting as it was very new for us, we could buy the kind of soaps and skirts. We have never heard about before, or heard only from some ....... stories.
I also learned for myself that has sleeping until 9 o’clock is ..... the best idea, couse I am really sleepy now.

14.08.05
At the morning we had harisa in Vakıflıbey. A very Armenian dish made not that much armenian way. We took part in the Patarag given in Armenian church and got god’s blessing. Actually, it was first time for me to take part in Xaxoxorhneg ceremony. 

After that We’re given chance to swim in the Mediterian Sea. It was first time for me. The execertion the ........ curves was very interesting.
And at last we had also chance to partly participate in a Turkish wedding. So I realized that Lorke is really international song.

15.08.05
The best ........ and the most funny one we had that day was language course. And also I realizedhow lucky I am to meet Murat Belge. 

The evening was spent in Vakıflıbey Village, we talked to armenians from all around the world that get here in the village for “ Xaxoxorhneg “ holiday. We danced songs, that are to show the straight of a nation even that for from ........

Support to the Armenia-Turkey Normalisation Process is a programme implemented by a Consortium of eight civil society organisations from both countries with the financial assistance of the European Union under the Instrument for Stability

The overall objective of the programme is to promote civil society efforts towards the normalisation of relations between Turkey and Armenia and towards an open border by enhancing people-to-people contacts, expanding economic and business links, promoting cultural and educational activities and facilitating access to balanced information in both societies. 

The Consortium partners include Civilitas Foundation (CF), Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF), Public Journalism Club (PJC), Regional Studies Center (RSC) from Armenia; and Anadolu Kültür, the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (hCa), and Hrant Dink Foundation from Turkey.  The programme will include a series of activities such as media support, TV talk shows and citizen reporting to contribute to better mutual understanding.

The programme will also include travelling discussions; workshops and trainings for youth and teachers; exchange of artists, architects, and entrepreneurs; fellowship opportunities and travel support to enhance encounters and cooperation across the border. Research on business and economic opportunities; celebrity discussions about the past; and opinion exchanges of high-level former officials will also be a part of the programme. 

One of the main pillars of the Programme is inclusiveness – to engage and support new actors in the dialogue process. To this end, the Consortium created a Grant Scheme to invite individuals and civil society organisations from Armenia and Turkey - other than the Consortium members - to propose and implement their own project ideas, which will contribute to the overall objective of the Programme and multiply the shared outcomes. 

The results of all activities will be shared with the public through the trilingual website, which will serve as a networking tool featuring the overall picture of the past, current, and future developments in Armenia-Turkey dialogue initiatives. 

For further information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.