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BANKS RESPOND TO US ARMENIANS' LAWSUIT
Hurriyet
Sept 29 2011
Turkey
Incirlik Air Base, which is now used by the U.S. in the eastern
Mediterranean province of Adana is also among the Armenian claimed
properties. Hurriyet photo
Two Turkish banks have issued their defense in a U.S. lawsuit
filed by three Armenian-Americans claiming damages for the alleged
appropriation of their properties by Turkey during the events of
1915 in the last days of the Ottoman Empire. The Turkish Central
Bank and state-owned Ziraat Bank issued their pleas on Sept. 19,
while the Turkish Foreign Ministry, which was also sued, refused to
state its defense in the suit.
"Restitution of the property is the plaintiffs' rightful remedy
in international law for the unlawful expropriation of property,"
Vartkes Yeghiyan, the plaintiffs' lawyer, told the Hurriyet Daily
News via e-mail.
The banks have claimed in their pleas that the Turkish Republic
founded in 1923 cannot be held responsible for incidents that took
place during the Ottoman period. The prosecution, on the other hand,
is asking for $64 million in compensation.
"In lieu of restitution, plaintiffs are entitled to recovery of
the current fair market replacement value of the properties, plus
the accrued reasonable rental value," Yeghiyan said. "This case is
also important the international community. "Rita Mahtesyan, Anais
Harutyunyan and Alex Bakalyan filed the suit to reclaim property they
alleged had been expropriated by Turkey during the events of 1915
and whose income they say was transferred to the two banks in question.
The property they wish to claim also includes the Incirlik Air
Base used by the U.S. in the eastern Mediterranean province of
Adana. "The government of the Republic of Turkey is benefiting from
the exploitation of the properties," Yeghiyan said.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=banks-respond-to-us-armenians8217-lawsuit-2011-09-29
Hurriyet
Sept 29 2011
Turkey
Incirlik Air Base, which is now used by the U.S. in the eastern
Mediterranean province of Adana is also among the Armenian claimed
properties. Hurriyet photo
Two Turkish banks have issued their defense in a U.S. lawsuit
filed by three Armenian-Americans claiming damages for the alleged
appropriation of their properties by Turkey during the events of
1915 in the last days of the Ottoman Empire. The Turkish Central
Bank and state-owned Ziraat Bank issued their pleas on Sept. 19,
while the Turkish Foreign Ministry, which was also sued, refused to
state its defense in the suit.
"Restitution of the property is the plaintiffs' rightful remedy
in international law for the unlawful expropriation of property,"
Vartkes Yeghiyan, the plaintiffs' lawyer, told the Hurriyet Daily
News via e-mail.
The banks have claimed in their pleas that the Turkish Republic
founded in 1923 cannot be held responsible for incidents that took
place during the Ottoman period. The prosecution, on the other hand,
is asking for $64 million in compensation.
"In lieu of restitution, plaintiffs are entitled to recovery of
the current fair market replacement value of the properties, plus
the accrued reasonable rental value," Yeghiyan said. "This case is
also important the international community. "Rita Mahtesyan, Anais
Harutyunyan and Alex Bakalyan filed the suit to reclaim property they
alleged had been expropriated by Turkey during the events of 1915
and whose income they say was transferred to the two banks in question.
The property they wish to claim also includes the Incirlik Air
Base used by the U.S. in the eastern Mediterranean province of
Adana. "The government of the Republic of Turkey is benefiting from
the exploitation of the properties," Yeghiyan said.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=banks-respond-to-us-armenians8217-lawsuit-2011-09-29