Banks respond to US Armenians’ lawsuit
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News
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. Hürriyet 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 Hürriyet 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.
30 Eylül 2011 Cuma
27 Eylül 2011 Salı
Greek archbishop criticizes president
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Vercihan Ziflioğlu-ISTANBUL
Greek Cyprus’ archbishop has criticized President Dimitris Christofias, saying the country failed to present an “honorable stance” when it agreed to buy electricity from northern Cyprus after a munitions blast damaged a critical power plant.
“A fire had broken out in the occupied area in previous years, causing energy [shortages] in the Turkish Cypriot section. When we attempted to help them at that time, they turned this offer down. They presented an honorable [and] honest stance. Unfortunately, we could not [emulate] this honest stance of theirs,” Archbishop Hrisostomos II, the religious leader of Greek Cyprus, told the Hürriyet Daily News after attending a summit of Orthodox patriarchs in Istanbul.
“I prefer to use a lamp or a torch rather than illuminate Cyprus with Turkish electricity. I would have told [them] not to purchase electricity from the occupied areas, if I were asked [about this.] Let us turn those air-conditioners off for a while and sweat to feel the hardship,” Hrisostomos II had said in previous comments.
The archbishop also said they were not demanding that Turkey recognize the ecumenical nature of the Fener Greek Patriarchate because the decision did not concern Turkey.
“The Christian world already recognizes the ecumenical nature of the Fener Greek Patriarchate. It would be to Turkey’s own benefit to recognize an institution that carries so much significance for the Orthodox world; it would honor [Turkey,]” he said. “Turkey needs to present a more democratic attitude if it wants to join the European Union,” he also said. “We lived in peace in Cyprus until Turkey’s intervention. Our reaction is toward Turkey.”
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Vercihan Ziflioğlu-ISTANBUL
Greek Cyprus’ archbishop has criticized President Dimitris Christofias, saying the country failed to present an “honorable stance” when it agreed to buy electricity from northern Cyprus after a munitions blast damaged a critical power plant.
“A fire had broken out in the occupied area in previous years, causing energy [shortages] in the Turkish Cypriot section. When we attempted to help them at that time, they turned this offer down. They presented an honorable [and] honest stance. Unfortunately, we could not [emulate] this honest stance of theirs,” Archbishop Hrisostomos II, the religious leader of Greek Cyprus, told the Hürriyet Daily News after attending a summit of Orthodox patriarchs in Istanbul.
“I prefer to use a lamp or a torch rather than illuminate Cyprus with Turkish electricity. I would have told [them] not to purchase electricity from the occupied areas, if I were asked [about this.] Let us turn those air-conditioners off for a while and sweat to feel the hardship,” Hrisostomos II had said in previous comments.
The archbishop also said they were not demanding that Turkey recognize the ecumenical nature of the Fener Greek Patriarchate because the decision did not concern Turkey.
“The Christian world already recognizes the ecumenical nature of the Fener Greek Patriarchate. It would be to Turkey’s own benefit to recognize an institution that carries so much significance for the Orthodox world; it would honor [Turkey,]” he said. “Turkey needs to present a more democratic attitude if it wants to join the European Union,” he also said. “We lived in peace in Cyprus until Turkey’s intervention. Our reaction is toward Turkey.”
Turkish-Armenian at odds over new bookFont Size: Larger
Monday, September 5, 2011
Vercihan Ziflioğlu - ISTANBUL
Turkish researcher Murat Bardakçı claims that he has been plagiarized.
A book written by Armenian historian Ara Sarafyan that includes historical documents published by Turkish researcher Murat Bardakçı has sparked a new debate between the two figures.
Bardakçı has accused Sarafyan of plagiarism in the book “Talat Paşa’s Report on the Armenian Genocide, 1917,” while Sarafyan has countered that Bardakçı is uncomfortable about the findings in the monograph, which draws heavily on the Turkish researcher’s work but also includes some additional documents.
“He has appropriated parts he saw fit, added explanations according to his own fancy and then published it under his own name without any shame or embarrassment. This is worse than plagiarism; it is outright theft,” journalist and writer Murat Bardakçı said.
Bardakçı prepared his book, “Talat Paşa’s Dead Letter,” in 2008 with personal documents compiled from Talat Paşa’s archives. Bardakçı said his publisher was going to initiate legal proceedings against Sarafyan, the director of the Gomidas Institute.
Sarafyan, meanwhile, also responded to the accusations; “I have made a more solid case – Talat’s report was actually based on official Ottoman records. I have also analyzed Talat’s data in the way that Talat would have read them,” he recently told the Daily News.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Vercihan Ziflioğlu - ISTANBUL
Turkish researcher Murat Bardakçı claims that he has been plagiarized.
A book written by Armenian historian Ara Sarafyan that includes historical documents published by Turkish researcher Murat Bardakçı has sparked a new debate between the two figures.
Bardakçı has accused Sarafyan of plagiarism in the book “Talat Paşa’s Report on the Armenian Genocide, 1917,” while Sarafyan has countered that Bardakçı is uncomfortable about the findings in the monograph, which draws heavily on the Turkish researcher’s work but also includes some additional documents.
“He has appropriated parts he saw fit, added explanations according to his own fancy and then published it under his own name without any shame or embarrassment. This is worse than plagiarism; it is outright theft,” journalist and writer Murat Bardakçı said.
Bardakçı prepared his book, “Talat Paşa’s Dead Letter,” in 2008 with personal documents compiled from Talat Paşa’s archives. Bardakçı said his publisher was going to initiate legal proceedings against Sarafyan, the director of the Gomidas Institute.
Sarafyan, meanwhile, also responded to the accusations; “I have made a more solid case – Talat’s report was actually based on official Ottoman records. I have also analyzed Talat’s data in the way that Talat would have read them,” he recently told the Daily News.
2 Eylül 2011 Cuma
Minority communities ready for civilianization
Monday, August 29, 2011
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
ISTANBUL
Prime Minister Erdoğan’s meeting with Turkey’s minority leaders brings along civilianization demands of Turkey’s minority communities. ‘Our patriarchates are always the decision-making bodies but our communities need to be civilianized,’ says Bedros Şirinoğlu, the head of Armenian Hospital Foundation
Lay members of Turkey’s minority groups appear set to increase their participation in their internal affairs while the communities themselves are looking to contribute more to the overall society, according to community leaders attending a landmark iftar Sunday with the prime minister.
“Of course, our patriarchates are always the decision-making bodies but our communities need to be civilianized,” Bedros Şirinoğlu, the head of the Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital Foundation and a leading member of the Armenian community, said during the event, which marked the first time Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had come together with all 161 minority foundations registered in Turkey for a fast-breaking meal. Turkey’s recognized minorities include the Jews, the Armenians and the Greek Orthodox, although other Christian foundations also attended Sunday’s event.
“The heads of foundations will soon become decision-making mechanisms, and the patriarchates will be endorsement centers. We are able to see the signals of this today,” said Simon İş, a lawyer who monitors developments and cases related to minority foundations, adding that the communities had advanced a long way on the road to civilianization.
One source speaking on condition of anonymity said it was symbolic that it was Laki Vingas, the lay head of an assembly representing all minority foundations under the General Directorate of Foundations, who took the floor at Istanbul’s Archaeology Museum and addressed the prime minister during the iftar rather than traditional religious leaders.
Vingas said the iftar meeting was a result of a mutual decision of minority communities. “We want to obtain inter-communal integration and in this sense this event, this togetherness is extremely important regarding the future.”
In addition to the desire for a greater civilianization of the minority communities, many in the groups have expressed a desire to have a greater say in the new constitution to be written during the present parliamentary term.
Members of the communities had been buoyed ahead of the iftar by news that a decree was published in the Official Gazzette on Saturday night recognizing the rights of minorities to the property that was seized from them 75 years ago.
According to the decree, minority communities will be paid compensation at market value for the properties that were sold to third parties. Minority foundations have 12 months to apply to benefit from the new ruling.
“Now, our community will be able to supply its domestic dynamics with self revenues,” Şirinoğlu told the Hürriyet Daily News at the event.
The decree issued by the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, government was very important for the communities, Vingas said, but added that some people were arguing that because the Greek population in Turkey had decreased, the gains from the properties were no longer of use to anyone in the community.
“This is an unnecessary debate; I don’t want to start [such an argument]. I don’t think we are in a position to reject property and say, ‘Very few of us are left; what do we do with these possessions?’ I don’t think we have a right so say that,” he said.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
ISTANBUL
Prime Minister Erdoğan’s meeting with Turkey’s minority leaders brings along civilianization demands of Turkey’s minority communities. ‘Our patriarchates are always the decision-making bodies but our communities need to be civilianized,’ says Bedros Şirinoğlu, the head of Armenian Hospital Foundation
Lay members of Turkey’s minority groups appear set to increase their participation in their internal affairs while the communities themselves are looking to contribute more to the overall society, according to community leaders attending a landmark iftar Sunday with the prime minister.
“Of course, our patriarchates are always the decision-making bodies but our communities need to be civilianized,” Bedros Şirinoğlu, the head of the Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital Foundation and a leading member of the Armenian community, said during the event, which marked the first time Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had come together with all 161 minority foundations registered in Turkey for a fast-breaking meal. Turkey’s recognized minorities include the Jews, the Armenians and the Greek Orthodox, although other Christian foundations also attended Sunday’s event.
“The heads of foundations will soon become decision-making mechanisms, and the patriarchates will be endorsement centers. We are able to see the signals of this today,” said Simon İş, a lawyer who monitors developments and cases related to minority foundations, adding that the communities had advanced a long way on the road to civilianization.
One source speaking on condition of anonymity said it was symbolic that it was Laki Vingas, the lay head of an assembly representing all minority foundations under the General Directorate of Foundations, who took the floor at Istanbul’s Archaeology Museum and addressed the prime minister during the iftar rather than traditional religious leaders.
Vingas said the iftar meeting was a result of a mutual decision of minority communities. “We want to obtain inter-communal integration and in this sense this event, this togetherness is extremely important regarding the future.”
In addition to the desire for a greater civilianization of the minority communities, many in the groups have expressed a desire to have a greater say in the new constitution to be written during the present parliamentary term.
Members of the communities had been buoyed ahead of the iftar by news that a decree was published in the Official Gazzette on Saturday night recognizing the rights of minorities to the property that was seized from them 75 years ago.
According to the decree, minority communities will be paid compensation at market value for the properties that were sold to third parties. Minority foundations have 12 months to apply to benefit from the new ruling.
“Now, our community will be able to supply its domestic dynamics with self revenues,” Şirinoğlu told the Hürriyet Daily News at the event.
The decree issued by the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, government was very important for the communities, Vingas said, but added that some people were arguing that because the Greek population in Turkey had decreased, the gains from the properties were no longer of use to anyone in the community.
“This is an unnecessary debate; I don’t want to start [such an argument]. I don’t think we are in a position to reject property and say, ‘Very few of us are left; what do we do with these possessions?’ I don’t think we have a right so say that,” he said.
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