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PROPERTIES IN ORTAKOY RETURNED TO ARMENIAN ASSOCIATION
Today's Zaman
March 30 2012
Turkey
An Armenian association has reclaimed two real properties belonging
to the association after almost 50 years.
The Ortakoy Surp Asdvadzadzin Church Association, an Armenian
association, filed a lawsuit demanding to retake possession of two
real properties that belonged to the association yet had been seized
by the General Directorate of Foundations due to the 36 Declaration,
a 1936 decision that led to the confiscation of properties from
non-Muslim minorities. However, the association recently won a case
enabling the association to reclaim the real properties.
The president of the association, İskender Şahingoz, said the
properties that have been regained are of utmost significance because
the association has been planning to use them for its projects.
Speaking to the Agos weekly, Şahingoz said: "These real properties
are specifically important because one of them is on the same street
with the Surp Asdvadzadzin Patriarchal Church [in İstanbul's Ortakoy
district]. The other one is two blocks away from the church. They
are in strategic locations, yet we have not been able to use them
until today. Now, we are planning to use them for our association's
projects, which will benefit our society."
Once the association's construction projects are approved by the
İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality, construction work on buildings,
which will be used for the association's activities, will be launched
on the two real properties, with one covering an area of 568 square
meters and the other 412 square meters.
Şahingoz said there are other immovable assets they want to regain.
"Again in Ortakoy, there was an Armenian cemetery that was seized by
the TSK [Turkish Armed Forces] and then turned into a military base.
We have documents that prove that land used by the TSK was once an
Armenian cemetery," said the president and added that he will do
everything necessary to reclaim the cemetery as well.
There are thousands of pieces of real estate in Turkey whose rightful
owners are religious minority associations.
A new government edict, a decree that has the power of law, allows
minorities to register confiscated property with land registry
directorates within 12 months. In addition to buildings, other
edifices, such as fountains or cemeteries, will be returned to
religious foundations.
Today's Zaman
March 30 2012
Turkey
An Armenian association has reclaimed two real properties belonging
to the association after almost 50 years.
The Ortakoy Surp Asdvadzadzin Church Association, an Armenian
association, filed a lawsuit demanding to retake possession of two
real properties that belonged to the association yet had been seized
by the General Directorate of Foundations due to the 36 Declaration,
a 1936 decision that led to the confiscation of properties from
non-Muslim minorities. However, the association recently won a case
enabling the association to reclaim the real properties.
The president of the association, İskender Şahingoz, said the
properties that have been regained are of utmost significance because
the association has been planning to use them for its projects.
Speaking to the Agos weekly, Şahingoz said: "These real properties
are specifically important because one of them is on the same street
with the Surp Asdvadzadzin Patriarchal Church [in İstanbul's Ortakoy
district]. The other one is two blocks away from the church. They
are in strategic locations, yet we have not been able to use them
until today. Now, we are planning to use them for our association's
projects, which will benefit our society."
Once the association's construction projects are approved by the
İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality, construction work on buildings,
which will be used for the association's activities, will be launched
on the two real properties, with one covering an area of 568 square
meters and the other 412 square meters.
Şahingoz said there are other immovable assets they want to regain.
"Again in Ortakoy, there was an Armenian cemetery that was seized by
the TSK [Turkish Armed Forces] and then turned into a military base.
We have documents that prove that land used by the TSK was once an
Armenian cemetery," said the president and added that he will do
everything necessary to reclaim the cemetery as well.
There are thousands of pieces of real estate in Turkey whose rightful
owners are religious minority associations.
A new government edict, a decree that has the power of law, allows
minorities to register confiscated property with land registry
directorates within 12 months. In addition to buildings, other
edifices, such as fountains or cemeteries, will be returned to
religious foundations.