17 PROPERTIES RETURNED TO ARMENIAN FOUNDATION IN DIYARBAKÝR

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
July 15 2013

15 July 2013 /TODAY’S ZAMAN, ÝSTANBUL

The Diyarbakýr Regional Directorate of Foundations has decided to
return 17 properties in the southeastern province of Diyarbakýr to
the Armenian community as a result of an initiative launched over the
past year by the Diyarbakýr Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation.

The Sabah daily reported on Monday that during a restoration project
for the historic Surp Giragos Armenian Church in 2009, the Diyarbakýr
Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation discovered a document listing
the properties owned by Armenians before they left Diyarbakýr between
1910 and 1921. The document reportedly lists 190 properties. After the
discovery of the document, the foundation filed a petition with the
Diyarbakýr Regional Directorate of Foundations demanding the return
of these properties after it found the current real estate listings
of the properties.

According to the Sabah report, the Diyarbakýr Regional Directorate of
Foundations recently decided to return 17 properties, with a total
area of 15,000 square meters, within the borders of Diyarbakýr’s
Sur district. The Diyarbakýr Regional Directorate of Foundations
reportedly refused to return the other 173 properties listed in the
document on the grounds that the certificates of ownership provided to
the directorate are too old, belonging to the Ottoman era or to the
period prior to 1910. The directorate reportedly told the Diyarbakýr
Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation that its records are too old
and insufficient for the return of the 173 properties, asking it to
find newer records.

Vartkes Ergun Ayýk, the head of the Diyarbakýr Surp Giragos Armenian
Church Foundation, told the Sabah daily that they are happy with the
Diyarbakýr Regional Directorate of Foundations’ initial decision but
will continue their efforts until the remaining 173 properties are
returned to the foundation.

Regarding the 17 properties that were returned, Ayýk said: “Some of
the properties that were returned are currently occupied by unlicensed
buildings, some by even public buildings,” adding: “The Ottoman-era
records of the 173 properties have caused difficulties as the locations
of the properties are defined using some vague expressions such as
‘the house next to Kirkor’s house’ or ‘the house behind the field of
Sarkisyan and opposite the house of Ahmet.’ The Diyarbakýr Regional
Directorate of Foundations has asked us to find more reliable and
contemporary records for the properties. We have applied to the General
Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre to help us find contemporary
records. If we fail to obtain a favorable result, we will go to court.”

The Surp Giragos Armenian Church was seized by the German army during
World War I and in 1918 was converted into a textiles warehouse for
Sumerbank. The Armenian population in the area applied for its return
in 1952 and the church was subsequently returned to the community.

However, due to the lack of a congregation, it remained neglected since
1980. Renovation started at the end of 2009 after the Diyarbakýr Surp
Giragos Armenian Church Foundation undertook the restoration project
of the 400-year-old church. The church was reopened on Oct.

23, 2011, for a religious ceremony.

From: A. Papazian