Karo Paylan, an Armenian MP elected from the pro-Kurdish Democratic People’s Party (HDP), spoke in the Turkish parliament (Mejlis) about nationalism, discrimination and hostility towards neighbors, Ermenihaber reports.

Paylan noted that for centuries the peoples of Rome, Byzantium, the Seljuk and Ottoman states were somehow able to live together in this region and added: “But after 150 years, the disease of nationalism has penetrated into this region. The disease of privilege has penetrated.

Then they said that we are Turks. Very well, you are welcome, but weren’t there people here (before the arrival of the Turks -editor)? We lived together, we founded a civilization together. Are you proud of the works of architect Sinan? Sinan was a Caesarean Armenian. What we did, we did together. Then came the disease of nationalism and privilege.”

Paylan recalled that Girgor Zohrap, who spoke from the pulpit of the Ottoman Parliament about equal rights to live together, was brutally killed during the massacre. According to the Armenian MP, the Armenian and Greek peoples have been betrayed.

Paylan stressed that the history of Turks cannot be told without Armenians and Kurds. In the same way, it is impossible to present the history of Armenians without Turks and Kurds. He then addressed Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who was sitting in the hall, reminding him that for years he had been urging him to use the word compatriots/citizens instead of the word relatives when addressing the people from the pulpit.

“There was an Armenian sitting on your chair 110 years ago, and I can theoretically sit on your chair. Would you like me to stand up and say that I am doing this or that for my relatives? I will not like it. This country has citizens, not relatives,” Paylan told the Turkish minister.