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ARAM I: ARMENIANS' GENOCIDE REPARATION DEMAND VALID
PanARMENIAN.Net
February 27, 2012 - 17:54 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House
of Cilicia delivered concluding remarks to the international conference
on the Armenian Genocide in Lebanon.
"As experts in human rights, international law and the Armenian
Genocide, you have analyzed and affirmed, through your presentations
and discussions, that the demand of the Armenian people for reparation
is valid in the context of the provisions of the United Nations'
conventions, international treaties and international criminal law,"
His Holiness said.
"International law and its relevant international norms arising from
treaties, conventions and resolutions of UN General Assembly challenge
impunity in all forms and affirm the necessity for reparation. Hence,
the confiscation of properties is a continuous crime against humanity.
The international law provides the legal basis for the successors of
the victims of genocide to present a collective claim for the return
of properties to their rightful owners," he said.
"Turkey may continue denying the Armenian Genocide, it may continue
spending significant political capital and issuing threats in an
attempt to block initiatives aimed at recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. But, it cannot deny the very fact that about one and a half
million Armenians, Ottoman citizens, in 1915, with the pretext of
"relocation" to avoid "intercommunal clashes" and for "strategic
reasons because of war" - reasons given by the Turkish authorities
- were forcefully driven out from their homes leaving behind them
thousands of churches, monasteries, schools, hospitals, community
and private properties and a huge spiritual, cultural, intellectual
and financial wealth," His Holiness Aram I said.
"It is important once again to remind ourselves of a few facts
about the Armenian properties. A law signed by the Ottoman-Turkish
government on May 1915 states that "the land and properties belonging
to Armenians who have been sent elsewhere as a result of the state of
war and the extraordinary political situation... will be immediately
sealed by the special council... and will be registered and taken under
protection... . The same law also assures that "the money received as
a result of the sale will be preserved at the financial office in the
name of the previous owner". In contrast to this law, and in order
to give a permanent solution to the complex issue of properties,
the Ottoman-Turkish government invented the theory of "abandoned"
properties and put on sale and public auction the Armenian properties
even providing payment facilities to accelerate the sale. This act
of the Ottoman-Turkish government was indeed the continuation of the
Armenian Genocide," he went on.
"I repeat: the policy of denial does not exempt Turkey from its legal
obligation towards the Armenian properties. Irrespective of the Turkish
law of so called "abandoned" properties, the Armenians have never given
up their ownership, they remain the legal owners of these properties
according to the international law, the Lausanne agreement which was
signed by Turkey as well as according to the Turkish domestic law
Therefore, within the context of reparation for the Armenian Genocide,
at this point in time and as a first and concrete step towards a full
restoration of the legitimate rights of the Armenian people, church
and community properties must be returned to their rightful owners.
"We are seeking justice: recognition of the Armenian Genocide and
reparation. This is a challenge before us. The Armenian Catholicosate
of Cilicia is ready to respond to this challenge with strong commitment
and a profound sense of responsibility," His Holiness concluded.
From: A. Papazian
PanARMENIAN.Net
February 27, 2012 - 17:54 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House
of Cilicia delivered concluding remarks to the international conference
on the Armenian Genocide in Lebanon.
"As experts in human rights, international law and the Armenian
Genocide, you have analyzed and affirmed, through your presentations
and discussions, that the demand of the Armenian people for reparation
is valid in the context of the provisions of the United Nations'
conventions, international treaties and international criminal law,"
His Holiness said.
"International law and its relevant international norms arising from
treaties, conventions and resolutions of UN General Assembly challenge
impunity in all forms and affirm the necessity for reparation. Hence,
the confiscation of properties is a continuous crime against humanity.
The international law provides the legal basis for the successors of
the victims of genocide to present a collective claim for the return
of properties to their rightful owners," he said.
"Turkey may continue denying the Armenian Genocide, it may continue
spending significant political capital and issuing threats in an
attempt to block initiatives aimed at recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. But, it cannot deny the very fact that about one and a half
million Armenians, Ottoman citizens, in 1915, with the pretext of
"relocation" to avoid "intercommunal clashes" and for "strategic
reasons because of war" - reasons given by the Turkish authorities
- were forcefully driven out from their homes leaving behind them
thousands of churches, monasteries, schools, hospitals, community
and private properties and a huge spiritual, cultural, intellectual
and financial wealth," His Holiness Aram I said.
"It is important once again to remind ourselves of a few facts
about the Armenian properties. A law signed by the Ottoman-Turkish
government on May 1915 states that "the land and properties belonging
to Armenians who have been sent elsewhere as a result of the state of
war and the extraordinary political situation... will be immediately
sealed by the special council... and will be registered and taken under
protection... . The same law also assures that "the money received as
a result of the sale will be preserved at the financial office in the
name of the previous owner". In contrast to this law, and in order
to give a permanent solution to the complex issue of properties,
the Ottoman-Turkish government invented the theory of "abandoned"
properties and put on sale and public auction the Armenian properties
even providing payment facilities to accelerate the sale. This act
of the Ottoman-Turkish government was indeed the continuation of the
Armenian Genocide," he went on.
"I repeat: the policy of denial does not exempt Turkey from its legal
obligation towards the Armenian properties. Irrespective of the Turkish
law of so called "abandoned" properties, the Armenians have never given
up their ownership, they remain the legal owners of these properties
according to the international law, the Lausanne agreement which was
signed by Turkey as well as according to the Turkish domestic law
Therefore, within the context of reparation for the Armenian Genocide,
at this point in time and as a first and concrete step towards a full
restoration of the legitimate rights of the Armenian people, church
and community properties must be returned to their rightful owners.
"We are seeking justice: recognition of the Armenian Genocide and
reparation. This is a challenge before us. The Armenian Catholicosate
of Cilicia is ready to respond to this challenge with strong commitment
and a profound sense of responsibility," His Holiness concluded.
From: A. Papazian