Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Oct 15 2012

Armenian church objects to sum of compensation

15 October 2012 / TODAY’S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL

The Gedikpaşa Armenian Protestant Church in İstanbul has objected to a
sum of TL 147,000 that was set by the Finance Ministry to be paid in
lieu of the return of a building previously seized from the church by
the government, saying they would like the ministry to reconsider the
amount due.

Last year, the Turkish government adopted a decree to return all
confiscated immovable property that had belonged to minority
foundations in Turkey, a long-overdue step towards expanding the
rights of minorities in the country.

According to the decree, minority foundations are able to repossess
real property seized by the government for which they filed a claim
back in 1936. All real property, cemeteries and fountains still held
by the government to which minority foundations have claims will be
returned to their rightful holders. Immoveable property now belonging
to third parties is to be paid out rather than returned.

The General Directorate of Foundations ruled that compensation should
be paid for the building that previously belonged to the Gedikpaşa
Armenian Protestant Church as the building is owned by a third party
today.

The church organization, located in İstanbul’s Kumkapı neighborhood,
had earlier sought an appraisal of the four-storey building, which the
church had used as an orphanage for Armenian girls. The value was set
at TL 550,000.

The church has included this appraisal in its objection to the Finance Ministry.

This marks the first act by the government to pay compensation to a
minority foundation in line with last year’s decree.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress