Author: Kanayan Tamar

ISRAEL ET LA RECONNAISSANCE DE L’HOLOCAUSTE ARMENIEN – II

Publie le : 13-07-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
propose la deuxième partie de la traduction d’un article en anglais
ecrit par le Professeur Israel W. Charny et paru sur le site GPN
[Genocide Prevention Now] le 12 juin 2012 concernant les debats sur
le genocide armenien a la Knesset le 12 juin 2012.

GPN [Genocide Prevention Now]

Numero 10, printemps 2012

G P N O R I G I N A L B R E AK I N G N E W S

C’est la première fois qu’un gouvernement d’Israël a approuve la
reconnaissance [du genocide armenien]

Un rapport approfondi et une analyse du processus politique, par GPN

Prepare par Israel W. Charny

Explication et analyse GPN

Contrairement a la procedure du Congrès americain, la procedure
legislative d’Israël appelle d’abord a un vote en seance plenière
et si le vote est positif alors la resolution proposee est envoyee
devant l’une des commissions de la Knesset. Ensuite, si le vote de
la commission est positif, la motion repart en seance plenière pour
trois audiences, avec un vote a chaque fois. Une fois ce processus
complètement accompli, la resolution devient une decision legale de
la Knesset.

Dans le cas du projet de loi sur la reconnaissance du genocide
armenien, on sait que si le gouvernement man~uvre pour envoyer
le projet devant le Comite secret des Affaires etrangères et de
la Securite, ce sera très probablement sa mort – et jamais aucune
information sur qui a dit quoi et ‘qui l’a fait’ ne filtrera. Lorsque
la presente resolution a ete transmise a l’automne dernier a la
Commission de l’Education, dont les audiences sont publiques, ce
fut une etape majeure vers une reconnaissance possible du genocide
armenien. L’audience de decembre devant la Commission de l’Education
a ete largement saluee en Israël comme etant le tout premier examen
approfondi du genocide dans la legislature d’Israël.

Cependant – un très grand ‘cependant’ – comme rapporte par GPN a
l’epoque, après plusieurs heures d’une session riche et très emouvante,
le president de la Commission de l’Education d’alors, Alex Miller, –
depute de la Knesset pour le Parti Yisrael Beitenu qui est dirige par
le ministre des Affaires etrangères Avigdor Lieberman (le ministère
des Affaires etrangères poursuit son opposition traditionnelle a la
reconnaissance du genocide), comme s’il voulait rompre le charme de la
session, qui aurait en principe clairement produit un vote en faveur
de la reconnaissance, – a annonce que la seance etait terminee. Paf
! Miller a alors promis qu’il y aurait une prochaine seance, mais
en fait il n’a jamais rien fait pour la programmer et GPN a appris
a titre prive ces derniers mois, des responsables de la communaute
armenienne en Israël, que Miller avait dit qu’il refusait de convoquer
une telle seance.

Il reste a voir a present si le gouvernement fera quelque chose
a propos de sa recente annonce de soutien a la reconnaissance et
~uvrera pour que la Knesset renvoie la mesure devant la Commission
de l’Education pour une seconde seance – il y aura une nouvelle
presidence de la Commission de l’Education) dans les semaines a venir.

Ce qui est clair, c’est que le president de la Knesset, Reuven
Rivlin, fera tout ce qui est en son pouvoir dans les coulisses des
decideurs, pour que la resolution soit renvoyee devant la Commission
de l’Education, mais nous ne pouvons pas evaluer la portee de son
influence.

Si le gouvernement prend des dispositions pour que le projet de loi
passe devant le comite secret où il sera etouffe, ou, usant d’un autre
moyen, bloque le deroulement du processus complet, nous saurons que
la declaration faite par le porte-parole du gouvernement le 12 juin
etait encore une autre man~uvre dans l’histoire de la realpolitik
israelienne – quand bien meme cette declaration elle-meme represente
un precedent majeur dans le processus torture qui s’est deroule en
Israël depuis tant d’annees.

Une enigme pour ce journaliste est que le jour suivant l’audience,
tant la presse en Israël qu’aux Etats-Unis n’a pas rapporte haut
et fort ce qui est que pour nous une très grande nouvelle – et
donc le titre du GPN : Le Gouvernement d’Israël a vraiment declare
officiellement qu’il soutient la reconnaissance. Waouh ! En passant en
revue la presse aujourd’hui, j’ai decouvert a ma stupefaction que la
plupart des journaux etaient passes a côte du plus important. Haaretz
en hebreu n’a meme pas parle de l’histoire de l’audience. L’edition
anglaise de Haaretz de ce matin a publie en première page un article
sur l’audience, mais n’a toujours pas transmis le point principal de
la victoire. Le Jerusalem Post ou le Los Angeles Times ne l’ont pas
fait non plus, malgre des articles assez complets.

Un nouveau journal israelien de moindre importance, Arutz Sheva,
a bien publie un petit article, indiquant que le ministre Erdan ”
parlait au nom du gouvernement… ” et l’a cite en disant qu’il avait
parle a la première personne (ce qui pourrait etre la source de la
confusion generee quant a qui il representait), ” Je crois qu’il serait
approprie pour le gouvernement israelien de reconnaître le genocide
armenien. ” À Istanbul, le quotidien Today’s Zaman a ete plus exact
que la majorite des journaux israeliens et il a cite correctement
le ministre, MAIS il a ajoute qu’il avait dit que le gouvernement
israelien n’avait pas change sa politique, et s’est beaucoup trompe
en disant que l’audience avait ete initiee en reponse aux declarations
du ministre et non que le ministre etait venu en tant que representant
officiel du gouvernement a la seance de la Knesset.

La seule source que nous avons trouvee a ce jour et qui a publie une
information exacte est le Chicago Tribune qui a clairement credite
Erdan comme parlant au nom du gouvernement.

Pourquoi tant d’informations aussi floues ? Pour l’instant, l’analyse
de GPN est que c’est une enorme rectification qu’Israël fait après
tant d’annees et c’est assez difficile a croire. Comme nous l’avons
deja dit, meme le ministre semblait nerveux et incertain.

Meme s’il existe de grands risques de se tromper, le
journaliste-editeur de GPN predit maintenant que la resolution sur
la reconnaissance du genocide armenien ira au bout de la procedure
et sera adoptee par la Knesset israelienne.

©Traduction de l’anglais C.Gardon pour le Collectif VAN – 24 juin
2012 – 07:15 –

Lire aussi:

Israël et la reconnaissance de l’holocauste armenien – I

Israël, les Juifs et le genocide armenien

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : GPN

ARMENIAN CONVICTS TRANSFERRED TO IRAN

news.am
July 14, 2012 | 15:56

YEREVAN.- Armenian Minister of Justice Hrayr Tovmasyan decided to
transfer to Iranian authorities 12 convicts, citizens of the Islamic
Republic, sentenced in Armenia.

All of them expressed wish to serve the remaining term at home.

Ten convicts, eleven men and a woman, were transferred to the Iranian
side on July 12, Justice Ministry told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

In 2006 Armenia and Iran signed an agreement on judicial cooperation
on civil and criminal cases as well as an extradition agreement.

Currently, negotiations are underway on signing of an agreement
regulating the issues of prisoners’ extradition.

The citizens sent to Iran from Armenia were charged with smuggling,
drug trafficking.

MOTHER OF KILLED OWNER OF ARAY COMPANY DETAINED FOR KIDNAPPING A CHILD HAS BEEN RELEASED ON HER OWN RECOGNIZANCE

arminfo
Friday, July 13, 20:15

The mother of the killed owner of Aray company Armen Petrosyan, Karine
Sukiasyan, who was detained on Thursday for kidnapping a child, has
been released on her own recognizance, reports the press service of
the police.

Sukiasyan was put on the wanted list on Mar 2 2012 after disappearing
together with the five-year-old daughter of her son. The girl’s
mother lives in the United States, and it is not yet clear who will
be authorized to take care of the child.

The dead body of Armen Petrosyan was found in his car with a gun in
his hand on Oct 16 2011. The police are still unaware if it was a
suicide or not.

In Feb 2012 sister of Armen Armine Petrosyan found an envelope with
the video recording of a Skype talk where Armen’s former wife Tatiana
Chadenkova and some Arthur were plotting some act against Armen.

Later Karine Sukiasyan said in an open letter to Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan that Tatiana was trying to take away her granddaughter,
and even though there were clear proofs of her guilt, the court was
openly favoring her and did not seem to be going to do anything.

So, Sukiasyan assumed that there was some high-ranking official
behind Tatiana.

“If it was a murder – something I am sure of – it was done so
professionally that even experts are unable – or unwilling – to prove
it,” Sukiasyan said.

” ARMAVIA ” ANNULE SA COMMANDE D’UN SECOND SUPERJET-100 ET SE RETOURNE VERS AIRBUS ET BOEING
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 14 juillet 2012

La compagnie aerienne armenienne ” Armavia ” a annule sa commande d’un
deuxième Sukhoï Superjet-100 pour se retourner ber Airbus et Boeing.

Selon Nana Avedissian la responsable de presse de la compagnie, les
dirigeants d'” Armavia ” ont rencontre les responsables d’Airbus
et de Boeing pour acquerir deux appareils. Le 19 avril dernier, ”
Armavia ” avait recu son premier avion russe Superjet-100 le second
etant en commande. Mais ” Armavia ” a prefere se retourner vers Airbus
et Boeing.

GLENDALE’S ARMENIAN COMMUNITY PROTESTS YEREVAN RESTAURANT MURDER

news.am
July 14, 2012 | 11:21

LOS ANGELES. – A crowd gathered outside the Los Angeles Consulate
General of Armenia on Friday to protest, once again, the murder of
Vahe Avetyan and deliver a series of demands to the Government of
Armenia, Asbarez informs.

One of the participants was Avetyan’s cousin. He made a heartfelt
plea that the laws of the land be implemented and simple justice be
served upon those who murdered his relative.

The approximately hour-long protest drew a photographer from the
Glendale News Press and the Glendale police department.

Consulate staff allowed only one person to enter the building from
among the demonstrators to deliver the demands, which are:

1. An emergency session of Armenia’s National Assembly be convened.

2. The Prosecutor General indict Ruben Hayrapetyan as a codefendant
in the Avetyan murder case.

3. Hayrapetyan be dismissed from the National Assembly for violating
its rules prohibiting entrepreneurial activity by sitting Deputies.

4. An impartial investigation be conducted of Hayrapetyan’s offenses
and Avetyan’s murder.

5. Hayrapetyan be dismissed from his post as President of the Football
Federation of Armenia.

Future protests will be held at the same location on Sundays at
1pm, with a special demonstration is planned for Avetyan’s Forty
Day memorial.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, an incident had occurred at
capital city Yerevan’s Harsnaqar Restaurant on June 17, where several
military doctors including Edgar Mikoyan, Arkadi Aghajanyan, Garik
Soghomonyan, Artak Bayadyan and Vahe Avetyan were brutally beaten by
Hayrapetyan’s security personnel. And Vahe Avetyan died in hospital
on June 29. A criminal case is launched and the Police have detained
six people.

The Restaurant’s owner is senior ruling party MP, Football Federation
of Armenia President, and businessman Ruben Hayrapetyan, who on July
3 formally submitted his resignation from his parliamentary seat.

LE PRESIDENT ARMENIEN SALUE LA FRANCE A L’OCCASION DU 14 JUILLET
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 14 juillet 2012

A l’occasion de la Fete nationale du 14 Juillet, le president
armenien Serge Sarkissian s’est rendu hier a l’Ambassade de France a
Erevan pour y rencontrer l’Ambassadeur francais Henri Reynaud. Serge
Sarkissian a felicite l’Ambassadeur et lui a demande de transmettre
au gouvernement ainsi qu’au peuple francais ” peuple ami “, ses
felicitations a l’occasion de cette fete nationale. Le president
armenien a egalement transmis a Henri Reynaud un communique destine
a son homologue francais Francois Hollande dans lequel il remercie
la France pour son rôle actif dans la co-presidence du Groupe de Minsk.

Il a egalement souligne les relations seculaires et amicales entre
la France et l’Armenie et le soutien de Paris pour rapprocher Erevan
dans le perimètre de la Communaute europeenne.

DISPARITION DE LA DOYENNE DE L’UNION DES PEINTRES D’ARMENIE, SURVIVANTE DU GENOCIDE
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 14 juillet 2012

Elena Abrahamian (103 ans) etait la doyenne de l’Union des peintres
d’Armenie qui avait survecu au genocide armenien. Elle etait l’un des
derniers temoins vivants des crimes de 1915. Elle vient de disparaître
a Erevan. Nee a Kars en 1909 (ou 1910) elle avait suivi les survivants
et refugies dans l’exode de l’Armenie occidentale vers l’Armenie
orientale. Peintre renommee elle etait depuis 1944 membre de l’Union
des peintres d’Armenie. La vielle dame qui avait quelques problèmes
d’audition vivait dignement a Erevan et avait conserve parfaitement sa
memoire. Elle vivait seule parmi ses souvenirs et ses tableaux. Alors
qu’elle avait 7 ans elle avait perdu la majeure partie de ses proches
dans le genocide. Elle racontait les atrocites commises par les Turcs.

Elle etait arrivee seule survivant du genocide a Erevan accompagnee de
sa tante. Elle avait perdu sa mère et son père lors du genocide. Elle
est partie en emportant avec elle une partie de cette histoire dont
les plaies ne se referment pas.

LES VOLS ENTRE LA SYRIE ET L’ARMENIE ONT REPRIS
Laetitia

armenews.com
samedi 14 juillet 2012

La compagnie aerienne nationale de l’Armenie, Armavia, a repris des
vols reguliers vers la Syrie. Des ressortissants syriens d’origine
armenienne fuient la violence qui règne dans le pays. Un avion Armavia
s’est rendu a Alep, la plus grande ville de la Syrie, lundi et est
retourne a Erevan le lendemain pour la première fois en près de quatre
mois. La societe Armavia a suspendu les vols pour la Syrie en mars
et les vols Erevan-Alep sont desormais tous reserves jusqu’a septembre.

Le transporteur a declare en fin du mois dernier qu’il a decide
de reprendre le service hebdomadaire a la demande du catholicos
Garegin II, le chef supreme de l’Eglise apostolique armenienne. Son
porte-parole, Nana Avetisova, a declare mercredi que tous les billets
pour juillet ont ete rapidement vendus. Avetisova a nie le fait
qu’Armavia a rehausse le prix des billets.

Si les combats ne s’arretent pas en Armenie, des milliers d’Armeniens
de Syrie pourraient fuir du pays dans les mois qui suivent. Selon
les autorites d’immigration a Erevan, environ 3.000 d’entre eux ont
demande la citoyennete armenienne l’an dernier et 2700 dans les cinq
premiers mois de l’annee 2012.

Garbis Arabaltian, qui tient un salon de coiffure a Alep, etait parmi
les 320 personnes qui sont arrivees a Erevan mercredi matin. Il a ete
accueilli a l’aeroport Zvartnots par son fils, qui a emigre en Armenie
il y a deux mois et a deja trouve un emploi dans un hôtel a Erevan.”

Il vaut mieux etre dans son pays “, a declare le jeune homme.

Arabaltian a dit que sa femme et son autre fils le rejoindront
prochainement en Armenie. ” Ma femme a vecu un veritable calvaire la
semaine dernière “, a-t-il declare a RFE / RL(Azatutyun.am).

” C’est notre troisième voyage en Armenie cette annee “, a declare un
homme qui est arrive avec sa famille a Zvartnots avec sa famille. Il
a affirme que la tourmente en Syrie n’est pas la seule raison pour
laquelle ils se sont rendus en Armenie.” Nous voulions revenir en
Armenie et cette situation nous a conduit a le faire. Nous avons
aussi la nationalite [armenienne] et nous possedons une maison ici
“, a-t-il explique.

Il y a environ 60 000 a 80 000 Armeniens en Syrie. La grande majorite
d’entre eux vivent a Alep.

Le gouvernement armenien a ete accuse par l’opposition de ne pas
assurer une aide necessaire aux rapatries.

“FRANCE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE SELF-DECLARED GOVERNMENTAL BODIES IN NAGORNO KARABAKH”

APA
July 13 2012
Azerbaijan

The interview of French ambassador to Azerbaijan Pascal Meunier to
APA on occasion of the National Holiday of France – Bastille Day

– How do you estimate the perspectives of development of bilateral
relations between Azerbaijan and France?

– After restoration of Azerbaijan’s independence, the relations
between our countries had a privileged character: “These relations
that were established due to friendship and mutual respect
uniting Jacques Chirac and Heydar Aliyev were continued by the
impulse given by President Ilham Aliyev. Recall that Ilham Aliyev
chose France for his first visit. The visits that have occurred at
inter-parliamentary, ministerial and presidential levels over the last
20 years both propelled forward these relations and gave a significant
diversification to them. The concrete realization of these relations
is the establishment of French Lyceum in Baku. This idea was suggested
during Paris meeting of President Nicolas Sarkozy and President Ilham
Aliyev in December, 2009 and a corresponding agreement was signed
between the countries during President Sarkozy’s visit to Baku on
October 7, 2011.

The bilateral relations in economic sphere developed largely. Thus,
according to the figures of Azerbaijan’s foreign trade statistics,
the trade turnover was USD 4, 645 bln in 2011. It turned France
into Azerbaijan’s 2nd degree partner. France turned into the second
purchaser of oil products after Italy. Of course, our sales are well
below and at the level of USD 608 mln. This sphere is also developing
with 6.2% growth dynamics. Our companies hold good positions in
high technology sphere and support Azerbaijan in the development of
economy. Azerbaijan’s AZAL Company refills its park with “Airbus”
planes and ATRs considered for short- distance flights. “Eurocopter”
furnishes “Silkway”. The radars of “Thales” company contribute to
the country’s civil security. “Arienespace” will place into orbit
Azerbaijan’s first “Azsat” satellite from Guinea-based Kuru space
port early 2013. Besides, France is satisfied to bring the goods of
beautiful life and delicate taste to Azerbaijan.

Our companies are not satisfied with providing goods and services, they
also contribute to the modernization of infrastructure in Azerbaijan.

French companies in oil sphere “Air Liquide” and “Tecechnip”,
members of group of companies on oil and oil products express desire
to participate in great industrial projects like SOCAR’s “Star”
(in Turkey) and “Ogpc” (in Azerbaijan).

Cultural exchange has never been so intensive as today. “Plaisirs de
France” (“Pearls of France”) exhibition attracted more than 40,000
visitors in the Art Museum, this is a record! Many directors of French
institutes arrived in Baku for the opening ceremonies, met with their
counterparts and planned new projects. The progress is observed on
some of them (for example, between the Carpet Museum and Pompidou
Center). “Fly Bakou” exhibition that was organized in Paris with the
assistance of Heydar Aliyev Foundation had a sensational success.

The construction of French Lyceum will give new dynamics for presence
of French language in Baku and give an opportunity for Azerbaijani
children to study in French language that is impossible today.

– What will be your main priorities as an Ambassador of France to
Azerbaijan? What spheres do you plan to develop more?

I would prefer three spheres: At first, to strengthen the political
dialogue. As you may know, a new government is formed in France. It
is important for those passing political decisions in both countries
to meet. It is necessary for giving an impetus to our cooperation
and exchanging view on big international problems. France, as a
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, intends to play its role in full
within the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. In this context,
I am glad that the foreign ministers of both countries can meet in
the near future.

As regards the issues on respect of individual freedoms and
human rights, as you may know, France is closely related to these
fundamental values, which deeply strengthened in the genes of our
compatriots and established our republican society. France wishes to
accompany the Azerbaijani government and people in way of political
reforms and democracy modestly, but with empathy and attentively. We
welcomed the latest positive orders by the Azerbaijani leadership
(release of 9 participants of 2 April rally in 2011; establishment
of dialogue forum with civil society and opposition; “Crossing Views”
(Carpaz BaxıÅ~_ TV program project that holds debates with the civil
societ nd opposition) and we, like our European partners, will pay
attention to the respect of public freedoms in Azerbaijan.

Secondly, developing our economical exchanges and cooperation. Big
companies of France have already operated in the hydrocarbon, cosmos
and ecology spheres in Azerbaijan. With my counterparts in Paris we
considered to strengthen cooperation in the other spheres including
agriculture, urban development and national security spheres. I
intend to establish French-Azerbaijan chamber of trade, as recently
established in Paris, in Baku as soon as possible for strengthening
the relations between small and middle enterprises of Azerbaijan
and France.

Thirdly, we must develop our relations. The first superiority is the
construction of lyceum. The leaderships of two countries attach great
importance to this issue. I also intend to research and learn the
strengthening methods of teaching French language with the universities
and schools of Azerbaijan.

– In May the delegation of French senators visited the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan- Nagorno Karabakh. In this regard the
Ministry of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan sent a letter to MF of
France and put the names of the senators to “black list”. How would
you comment that?

-The senators and deputies are elected representatives of people,
as noted in the French Constitution, division of powers exists
in France and they are free in their acts, positions and visits
within the authority. In no case, they have no authority to express
the official position of France, because this authority belongs
only to the French government. France, like the other countries,
recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and it means that
France doesn’t recognize self-declared governmental bodies in Nagorno
Karabakh. This position of France has never changed from the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict up to know.

– The meeting of the ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia was held
on the 18th of June in Paris. What steps can France, as OSCE Minsk
Group co-chair country, take to resolve the conflict?

-France, as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, has been actively
implementing the mediating role between Azerbaijan and Armenia since
ceasefire. France attempts to improve the communication between
the countries at ministerial and presidential level, at the same
time by the means of civil society. It is a long-term and difficult
work, but France continues to propel this work forward decidedly
and continuously and the meeting of the foreign minister in Paris
on June 18 has shown it again. This meeting, which was held with
the participation of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers at
the first time after several months pause, gave an opportunity to
hold negotiations in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
considering the Sochi Declaration which was signed by the Azerbaijani,
Armenian and Russian presidents on January 23, 2012. We also spoke
in Paris about the development of humanitarian aids, prevention
mechanism of ceasefire violation and protection of historical and
cultural areas. The co-chairs also expressed their deep concern about
the latest incidents occurred on the frontline and underlined the
importance of observation of agreement on ceasefire signed in 1994.

On the other hand, France, Russia and the US conduct work for full
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Incidentally, it played a
significant role in drawing of Madrid principles, which are adopted by
the both conflict parties as a basic document for negotiations. But
despite the above-said, as the history has repeatedly showed us,
irrespective of the countries, the peace can not be brought from
outside, because the peace is a fruit of compromise of both parties
that are in a conflict. Termination of sufferings of thousands of men,
women and children can be a decision only of both sides.

– The Armenian lobby is very active in France. Does not this fact
affect on preconception of France as the country’s co-chair in conflict
resolution process?

– Yes, there is a minority of Armenian origin in France, and this
minority, like the people of Africa, the Mediterranean Sea or
Eastern Europe, left their countries, which were destroyed most of
all by wars and crisis. These minorities play an active role in the
economic, political and public life of our country. This fact is a
result of republic integration and desire of people who struggled for
peace, freedom, equality and brotherhood principles and the fact of
dissolution of privileges 300 years ago.

On the other hand, we can’t deny the efforts made by Azerbaijan in
order to be known and heard in France. Our countries and societies
cooperate in political and economical spheres, as well as they create
balanced and rising relations on the firm base in the cultural sphere.

It means that Azerbaijan is more and better known in France.

SYRIACS OFFERED LAND ALREADY BELONG TO OTHER MINORITIES

Hurriyet
July 14 2012
Turkey

This file photo shows Mor Gabriel Syriac church in Mardin.

ISTANBUL – Hurriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioglu

Controversy has risen over plots of land that Turkey’s Syriac community
has claimed were offered to them for the establishment of their first
church in Istanbul. Two alternative spaces also offered to the Syriac
community by the Istanbul municipality belong to the Armenian and
Greek foundations respectively, it has emerged.

One of the land plots offered is allegedly a historical cemetery
belonging to the Armenian community and the only property belonging
to the Surp Stephanos Church Foundation in Istanbul’s YeÅ~_ilköy
district.

The other piece of land belongs to the Greek Hagios Stephanos
Foundation.

The land options were proposed to the Syriac community 10 days ago,
according to K.H., one of the leading figures of the Syrian community.

“They present us lands belonging to other minority communities,” K.H
said. “They aim to create polemics by giving us land which belongs
to another minority community. This is a scandal in its true sense.”

Officials from the Surp Stephanos Church Foundation expressed
disapproval at the municipality’s recent offering. “This is the
only property belonging to our foundation. We have difficulties
in meeting our needs, so how could we give this land to someone
else?” Arev Cebeci, one of the administrators of YeÅ~_ilköy Surp
Stephanos Church Foundation, said.

The Surp Stephanos Church Foundation is currently involved in a legal
case against the municipality over the return of property. “Just
after the approval of the new foundation law to return properties,
we opened a legal case against the municipality and won. However, the
Metropolitan Municipality brought the case to the Court of Appeal. We
believe that the court’s decision will be in our favor,” Cebeci said.

The foundation would consider releasing the land on only one condition,
Cebeci said. “If the Syriac community wants to buy the land, we could
consider delivering it.”

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality refused to comment on questions
from the Hurriyet Daily News.

“As an individual, I believe in the importance of cooperation between
the different minority groups in Turkey,” said Greek-origin Laki
Vingas, who is in charge of minority foundations in the Foundations
Directorate General.

“The Syriacs have been struggling to establish their own church for a
long time. Their struggle should be supported, but I insist on the fact
that my individual opinion does not interest my community,” he said.