An excerpt from the interview follows:
Diyarbakır has been an important city throughout history where different peoples lived together. How do you evaluate the architectural and cultural heritage left by Armenians in the city?
Diyarbakır's greatest wealth is its multicultural history. For centuries, this city was the shared living space of Kurds, Armenians, Syriacs, Arabs, Turkmens, and different faith communities. Armenians also made significant contributions to the trade, craftsmanship, architecture, and cultural life of this city. Today, many structures in the city's memory bear the traces of this shared past.
We do not see this heritage merely as a value belonging to the past. At the same time, we evaluate it as a ground that strengthens the culture of co-existence of the future.
In recent years, it is observed that Diaspora Armenians' interest in Diyarbakır as tourists has increased. How do you evaluate these visits?
We welcome these visits very positively. People want to see the cities where their grandfathers and grandmothers lived. They want to trace their family memories. This is a very natural and humane situation. Every visitor coming to Diyarbakır actually builds a bridge between past and present. These visits also contribute to the reduction of prejudices between societies, the strengthening of cultural ties, and the development of economic relations.
Is there a message you would like to send from Diyarbakır both to the Turkish public and to Armenians worldwide?
We want to send this message from Diyarbakır: the establishment of lasting friendships between peoples, the development of economic relations, and the strengthening of cultural ties are in the interest of all of us. Within this framework, we invite tour operators in Armenia to Diyarbakır. Increasing mutual tourism activity and implementing direct transportation and reciprocal flights will contribute significantly both to the two societies getting to know each other more closely and to the regional economy.
Likewise, we are open to all kinds of cooperation in the economic field. We support the development of joint projects in all mutually beneficial areas, especially in trade, investment, industry, agriculture, food, and tourism.
Today, what our region needs is more dialogue, more democracy, more trade, and more peace. Because this is the prerequisite for both economic development and social tranquility. Diyarbakır, with the multicultural heritage it draws from its history, is ready to contribute to this process and to be one of the important centers of regional cooperation.
