johannes, i have to disagree,...the hamshens are not turk, they do not consider themselves turks, and the turks don't consider them as such.. they call them 'ermeni', just like they call us....
in my opinion, it is pointless to debate the status, and loyalties of hamshens amongst each other, why don't you ask them what they think?
http://www.hamshen.org/forum/
i have been a member of this forum for a while now..
we must also understand that there are 3 different subgroups of hamshens.
2 muslims groups: eastern ..pontic coast(who retain their dialect of armenian), among whom there is a large armenian sentiment, western, who speak turkish, but are not as attached to their armenian brothers
last we have a 3rd apostolic christian group. there are large numbers of these in armenia, many in georgia, few in turkey (where they are originally from) and many in russia and turkestan (kazakstan, uzbekistan)
point being, they are all somewhat different, with different feelings, you can't just throw them all into one boat.