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HISTORICAL ISTANBUL BUILDING RENTED DESPITE THE ONGOING TRIAL
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
July 20 2013
ISTANBUL - Hurriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioglu
The Directorate General of Foundations rented the historical Sanasaryan
Han in Istanbul's Eminönu neighborhood through a tender, despite a
legal struggle by Turkey's Armenian Patriarchate.
The tender for renting the historical building, organized by the
Directorate General of Foundations on July 18, was won by Ozgeylani
Construction Company, despite the ongoing trial over the ownership
of the building.
Turkey's Armenian Patriarchate claims that the han, which was donated
to the patriarchate in 1881 by a Russian-Armenian Mıgırdic Sansaryan,
belongs to them as they have the documents to prove the donation. The
Directorate General of Foundations, on the other hand, claims that the
building did not fall under the jurisdiction of a law on the return
of properties to community foundations that took effect in 2011 as
it had been owned by a person.
Å~^ahin Gezer of Turkey's Armenian Patriarchate Real Estate Commission
told the Hurriyet Daily News that they had hoped until the last minute
that the tender would be halted. Gezer said they would continue their
legal action.
The Sanasaryan Han had an autonomous status when compared to the
other Armenian foundations, Gezer said, adding that this was due to
the fact that other foundations had churches and schools, whereas
the han had been donated to the patriarchate by a natural person.
Gezer said that the rent of the han should be equally distributed
between Armenian schools and public schools without any discrimination,
while adding that this was as an offer to the Directorate General of
Foundations "as we are equal citizens."
Commenting on the resolution on foundations, which entered into force
two years ago, Gezer said more than 400 properties were returned but
major problems were being faced. "For example, the returned space is
accepted as a green area or is closed for housing, so even if it is
returned you cannot use it," said Gezer.
While the Ozgeylani Construction Company left the Daily News'
questions unanswered, Aslı Ceren Demircan at the press department
of the Directorate General of Foundations told the Daily News that
the Sanasaryan Han was a cultural asset unregistered foundation that
needed to be protected and that the rental of the building would not
affect the court as the legal action was about the ownership.
"The topic has nothing to do with the process of returning [properties]
to the community foundations," said Demircan.
The han, after being donated to Turkey's Armenian Patriarchate in 1881,
was confiscated by the then government in 1935. The historical building
became famous for torture during the time the building was used as
the Police Department. The han also served as a courthouse for a while.
July/20/2013
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/historical-istanbul-building-rented-despite-the-ongoing-trial.aspx?pageID=238&nID=51061&NewsCatID=341
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
July 20 2013
ISTANBUL - Hurriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioglu
The Directorate General of Foundations rented the historical Sanasaryan
Han in Istanbul's Eminönu neighborhood through a tender, despite a
legal struggle by Turkey's Armenian Patriarchate.
The tender for renting the historical building, organized by the
Directorate General of Foundations on July 18, was won by Ozgeylani
Construction Company, despite the ongoing trial over the ownership
of the building.
Turkey's Armenian Patriarchate claims that the han, which was donated
to the patriarchate in 1881 by a Russian-Armenian Mıgırdic Sansaryan,
belongs to them as they have the documents to prove the donation. The
Directorate General of Foundations, on the other hand, claims that the
building did not fall under the jurisdiction of a law on the return
of properties to community foundations that took effect in 2011 as
it had been owned by a person.
Å~^ahin Gezer of Turkey's Armenian Patriarchate Real Estate Commission
told the Hurriyet Daily News that they had hoped until the last minute
that the tender would be halted. Gezer said they would continue their
legal action.
The Sanasaryan Han had an autonomous status when compared to the
other Armenian foundations, Gezer said, adding that this was due to
the fact that other foundations had churches and schools, whereas
the han had been donated to the patriarchate by a natural person.
Gezer said that the rent of the han should be equally distributed
between Armenian schools and public schools without any discrimination,
while adding that this was as an offer to the Directorate General of
Foundations "as we are equal citizens."
Commenting on the resolution on foundations, which entered into force
two years ago, Gezer said more than 400 properties were returned but
major problems were being faced. "For example, the returned space is
accepted as a green area or is closed for housing, so even if it is
returned you cannot use it," said Gezer.
While the Ozgeylani Construction Company left the Daily News'
questions unanswered, Aslı Ceren Demircan at the press department
of the Directorate General of Foundations told the Daily News that
the Sanasaryan Han was a cultural asset unregistered foundation that
needed to be protected and that the rental of the building would not
affect the court as the legal action was about the ownership.
"The topic has nothing to do with the process of returning [properties]
to the community foundations," said Demircan.
The han, after being donated to Turkey's Armenian Patriarchate in 1881,
was confiscated by the then government in 1935. The historical building
became famous for torture during the time the building was used as
the Police Department. The han also served as a courthouse for a while.
July/20/2013
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/historical-istanbul-building-rented-despite-the-ongoing-trial.aspx?pageID=238&nID=51061&NewsCatID=341