"I AM PROUD THAT I AM HAKOB VARDOVIAN’S GRANDCHILD," FORMER RECTOR OF VAN UNIVERSITY SAYS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 29 2007
ISTANBUL, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Yucel Askin, the
former Rector of the Van University affirmed that he is the grandchild
of famous theatrical figure Hakob Vardovian (Gulli Hakob).
After being arrested Yucel Askin for the first time spoke about his
origin, stating: "My father’s father is Hakob Vardovian. He in future
adopted Mohammedanism and took the name Yakup. He is the founder of the
Turkish theater. I am proud that I am Hakob Vardovian’s grandchild,
but neither me nor father had any tie with Armenians. I know myself
as a Turk and a citizen of the Republic of Turkey. And as for the
events taken place in 1915, in my opinion, it is a human tragedy. I
am not all stooped by the fact that my grandfather is Vardovian."
To recap, Van University Rector Yucel Askin was arrested on October
14, 2005, because of some problems arisen in the contract of transfer
of the money connected with getting medical equipment at the cost of
25 mln dollars for the research hospital of the medical faculty. The
latter was presented the accusation "of creating a criminal group
for mercenary motives." The Rector for the first time arrested in the
history of the Republic of Turkey on December 28, 2005 was set free.
The Rector’s arrest met counteraction of the scientific circles of
Turkey who opposing parties joined, as a result of what that issue
got a political shading. And after the issue when Yucel Askin’s having
Armenian origin started being speculated by deputy of the Justice and
Development party Ramazan Toprak, Constantinople Armenian Patriarch
Mesrop II Moutafian presented here a serious criticis, stating:
"Honourable Toprak spoke about Armenians in such a way as if being
an Armenian is a crime or means a much worse thing. Similar racist
expressions were inadmissible in modern democratic countries."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
