Author: Torgomian Varazdat

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
WCC EXECUTIVE URGES CHURCHES TO EXERCISE “UNIQUE POTENTIAL” FOR PEACE
WCC, 16/09/2005
Full text of WCC public statements available, see below
Churches must take responsibility to nurture healing in broken societies and
to promote peace, urged leaders of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in
public statements on Haiti and small arms released today.
The 25-member WCC executive committee was meeting at the WCC’s Bossey
Ecumenical Institute, near Geneva, 13-16 September 2005, in its last full
meeting prior to the WCC 9th Assembly in 2006.
> A public voice against gun violence
In a statement on small arms and light weapons, the WCC executive committee
urged churches to exercise their “unique potential” to curb demand for guns
and “to affirm God’s vision of life in peace and fullness” by “changing
public attitudes, shaping community values and becoming a public voice
against gun violence.”
Small arms are used in the vast majority of the estimated 350,000 of the
world’s deaths by violence annually. In 2006, the WCC will lead an
ecumenical delegation at the United Nations Small Arms Review Conference.
> New social contract for Haiti
Referring to the critical situation in Haiti, the committee acknowledged the
“enormous challenges faced by the people and the witness of the churches in
the country”. It also underlined its “concern for the current unstable
political situation”, as well as the extreme poverty, violence and human
suffering experienced by the population.
The committee asked member churches to express solidarity and to support
churches in Haiti to develop a monitoring team during forthcoming elections.
Churches are called to “support processes towards genuine popular
participation and a new social contract” for the benefit of all, the
statement says.
The committee called on the churches in Haiti to “intensify ecumenical
initiatives” for justice, peace and reconciliation. The WCC has closely
followed developments in Haiti in recent years and has led ecumenical
efforts for mediation and healing in the divided society. The WCC general
secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia met with church and political authorities in
Haiti in August 2005.
> Hurricane Katrina: the vulnerability of power
In his report to the committee, Kobia commented on the consequences of
Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged the southern USA in early September. “The
disaster has provoked widespread expressions of compassion and solidarity
among churches worldwide,” Kobia stated. “It also exposes profound weakneses
and wounds in American society, and pertinent questions of racism, poverty
and the impact of global warming, that need to be addressed with urgency and
determination. The disaster confronts us with the vulnerability of power,
and should challenge states to shift policies and reconsider international
relationships.”
> WCC programme and Assembly matters
The committee reviewed the Council’s programmatic work in 2005, and
evaluated major initiatives in the areas of mission and interreligious
dialogue. It also welcomed a continued stabilization in the financial
situation of the organization. Among key actions agreed by the executive
committee:
> WCC 9th Assembly
The executive committee finalized arrangements for the WCC 9th Assembly, to
be held in Porto Alegre, Brazil in February 2006. The committee confirmed
nominations made by member churches and reviewed plans for the agenda,
leadership and organization of the event, which is expected to gather over
3,000 church and ecumenical representatives from all regions.
Alongside work on themes such as church unity, economic justice and
overcoming violence, the committee proposed that the Assembly delegates also
focus on international issues, including the responsibility to protect, UN
reform, Latin America, and nuclear non-proliferation.
> Membership
The executive committee recommended that the Lao Evangelical Church, the
first from this country, be accepted for membership by the WCC central
committee in 2006. Six other applications for membership will also be
processed after the Assembly.
The committee supported the application of a series of church agencies and
organizations to be recognized by the central committee as “specialized
ministries in working relationship with the WCC” under new rules taking
effect in 2006.
> Alliance for development
Plans for a new global ecumenical platform for development, involving the
WCC, were affirmed, and greater consultation and information-sharing within
the WCC constituency was encouraged.
Concluding the meeting of the executive committee, the general secretary
expressed his thanks to the officers and members of the committee, and
particularly to the moderator Catholicos Aram I, for his “wise counsel,
theological depth and grasp of global issues,” which guided the Council over
the last seven years.
The full text of the statement on Small Arms and Light Weapons:
The full text of the statement on Haiti:
tml
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

PRESS RELEASE
Council of Europe Press Division
Ref: 458a05
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
[email protected]
internet:
The STAGE Project: cultural policies to foster increased democratic
stability in the southern Caucasus
Strasbourg, 12.09.2005 – “Culture and cultural policies for development”
will be the main theme of a meeting of the Ministers of Culture of the
south Caucasian countries held by the Council of Europe in Kyiv on 15
and 16 September at the invitation of the Ukrainian authorities.
This is the 5th ministerial colloquy to be held as part of the STAGE
Project (*), which is intended to promote cultural exchanges between
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and help strengthen democracy there. In
this year in which we have been celebrating the 50th anniversary of the
European Cultural Convention, the colloquy will be open to all 48
signatories.
It will be opened by Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, the Deputy Secretary
General of the Council of Europe, and Joaquim Duarte, the Portuguese
Ambassador to the Council of Europe (representing the Council of
Europe’s Committee of Ministers), at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 15 September.
Cultural diversity and social cohesion, cultural funding and cultural
tourism are some of the items on the agenda of the colloquy, during
which the Ministers of Culture present will also be reviewing the STAGE
Project’s progress since 2004 (on the basis of an evaluation report
drawn up by Terry Sandell, the project’s main advisor) and will decide
on the main lines of the follow-up activities to foster the development
of national cultural policies.
The colloquy will be open to the press and will take place in the
Ukrainian House arts centre (Khreshchatyk 2, Kyiv) on Thursday, 15 and
Friday, 16 September from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
A final declaration will be adopted at the end of the colloquy and
presented at a press conference to be held on Friday 16 September at
6.30 p.m.
More information is available on and
(see site for accreditations).
Contacts:
Alisa Moldavanova, press officer, Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and
Tourism
Tel./fax +38 044 235 22 33, e-mail [email protected]
Estelle Steiner, press officer, Council of Europe
Tel. +33 (0)3 88 41 33 35, mobile +33 (0)6 08 46 01 57, e-mail
[email protected]
——————-
(*)The STAGE Project (Support for Transition in the Arts and Culture in
Greater Europe) involves the three participating south Caucasian
countries and observer and donor countries (Germany, Austria, Greece,
the Russian Federation, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine).
To receive our press releases by e-mail, contact :
[email protected]
A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to
promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops
common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 46
member states.

ARMENIA TO ACCEPT CHAIRMANSHIP IN PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF ORGANIZATION OF BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION
ARKA News Agency
Sept 12 2005
YEREVAN, September 12. /ARKA/. Armenia will accept chairmanship in
Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of Black Sea Economic
Cooperation in November, 2005; Speaker of the Armenian Parliament
Arthur Baghdassaryan said at the briefing before the autumn session of
the RA national Assembly. He also reported that Speakers of Parliaments
of a number of countries will Armenia on his invitation, particularly
of Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia and Brazil. He said that the
Speaker of the State Duma of Russian Federation is expected to visit
Armenia in December, 2005. He also reported that some important events
will be organized at the RA NA, namely the seminar “Rouse Route” will
be held together with NATO. Several dozen delegations and parliamentary
missions are expected to visit Yerevan in this regard. The meetings
of two permanent commissions of the CIS Parliamentary Assembly are
also expected to be held in Yerevan. A.A.

Today, Azerbaijan
Sept 9 2005
Terry Davis: `CE drew up special election plan to help Azerbaijan –
CE Sec-Gen’

07 September 2005 [11:01] – Today.Az

Trend interviews Terry Davis, the Secretary General of the Council of
Europe.
Question: How does the Council of Europe estimate the current stage
of the pre-election campaign in Azerbaijan? For instance, the
current Election Code restricts the participation of NGOs in the
monitoring of the November elections?
Answer: The Council of Europe focuses its work on sustaining and
developing representative democracy. Transparency, awareness and
accountability in the election process are of crucial importance. I
should also like to highlight the essential need for political
parties to present a political programme, a platform to the
electorate. This would encourage the participation of citizens in the
political process. Moreover, it is essential that the voter is aware
of initiatives which a politician plans to introduce in parliamentary
work, if elected. It is important that concrete issues and
alternatives are debated. A lack of political platforms seems to be
the shortcoming of the campaign. More generally, I should like to
urge all the election campaigners to concentrate on concrete issues
and to abandon all negative campaigning directed at individual
persons.
The Council of Europe has suggested that NGOs receiving foreign
financial support should not be barred as observers to the election,
because their presence would be in line with good electoral practice
and add to the transparency of the process.
Question: What is the Council of Europe’s position on the situation
of the media in Azerbaijan? Does the policy on conduct of
pre-election propaganda in the country meet Council of Europe norms?
Answer: On joining the Council of Europe in 2001, Azerbaijan
committed itself to guaranteeing freedom of expression and
independence of the media and journalists. By working together with
the media of Azerbaijan, the Council of Europe is helping to train
media professionals in order to develop and strengthen their
professional and ethical standards and improve the quality of the
reporting of news and current affairs. Since a negative `black
propaganda’ phenomenon has recently emerged in the press, I urge all
media representatives to work in conformity with the general code of
conduct of the media and, in particular, the recently agreed code of
conduct during election campaigns.
Question: Do the Azerbaijani authorities still have time to implement
the legislative changes recommended by the Venice Commission?
Answer: Unfortunately, some of the major issues, such as the
composition of election commissions, as recommended by the Venice
Commission of the Council of Europe, have not been taken on board.
Therefore, I think that at this stage it would be crucial to restore
confidence in the eyes of the population in the transparency and
impartiality of the work of the election commission at all levels.
The elections should be conducted in an honest and open manner. Fair
elections are one of the cornerstones of democratic societies.
Question: What attitude would the Council of Europe adopt if the
elections in Azerbaijan differ essentially from `European standards’?
Answer: The Council of Europe has paid special attention to the
conduct of the parliamentary elections, and we have drawn up a
special election action plan to help Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has
clearly made efforts as well. The Presidential Decree on the basic
principles of fair and free elections and the start of public
television at the end of August are very positive developments.
Naturally, the success of these initiatives depends on their correct
implementation. Ultimately, assessment of the observation of the
elections by the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, together
with the ODIHR/OSCE conclusions, will define the position of the
Parliamentary Assembly regarding Azerbaijan.
Question: Are any debates scheduled during the October session of the
Parliamentary Assembly in connection with Azerbaijan?
Answer: Since the report on the functioning of democratic
institutions in Azerbaijan was discussed during the June session of
the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), I do not think that there is a
need to come back to this issue in October. But, of course, this is a
matter for the Assembly to decide upon.
Question: How do you estimate the commissioning of public television
and radio in Azerbaijan?
Answer: One of the commitments undertaken by Azerbaijan in 2001 was
to change the national television channel into a public channel
managed by an independent administrative board. In the light of the
introduction of AZTV3, I should like to congratulate the authorities
for their efforts in making sure that this public television channel
is operational before the parliamentary elections take place. Now it
is very important to ensure that AZTV3 functions as a public service
broadcaster which serves the public interest by making sure that news
programmes present facts and events fairly and encourage freedom of
opinion. All democratic societies need impartial, reliable and
objective public information.
Question: How do you regard the perspectives of the activities of the
PACE Sub-Committee on Nagorno-Karabakh? How will the resolution of
the Committee affect the Council of Europe’s official standpoint on
the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict?
Answer: The Council of Europe follows actively the progress of these
negotiations. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan undertook to make every
effort to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully when they
joined the Council of Europe. However, as Secretary General, I do not
interfere in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly, and therefore I
am not well placed to discuss this issue further.
Also, since my visit to Azerbaijan focuses on election-related
matters, I should like to concentrate on these.
URL:

ARMENIAN AMERICANS JOIN COALITION “AGAINST GENOCIDE” IN RALLY IN FRONT
OF WHITE HOUSE
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10. ARMINFO. Armenian Americans joined today with a
thousand activists brought together by Africa Action and a broad-based
coalition of religious, ethnic, and human rights groups at a White
House rally calling for decisive U.S. action to end the genocide in
the Darfur region of Sudan, reported the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA.). The demonstration marked a year of inaction by the
Administration following the President’s declaration that a genocide
is taking place in Darfur. The aim of the gathering was to kick off a
period of renewed activism by people of conscience across the country
to encourage the President to take every step necessary to ensure an
urgent multinational intervention to provide security to the people of
Darfur. To date, over 400,000 people have been killed; hundreds are
dying every day and hundreds of thousands more are at risk in the
coming weeks and months unless urgent action is taken.

A1+
| 14:52:58 | 09-09-2005 | Politics |
VAZGEN MANOUKYAN WANTS TO GO TO THE NA
`The boycott has exhausted itself, and the right thing to do would be to
return to the NA’, announced Vazgen Manoukyan in the press conference. But
he must still persuade his colleagues in the Justice bloc to act in the NA.
Generally, the leader of the National Democratic Union finds that `The state
is not healthy’, but the people are. According to him, the authorities are
ill, and out of any control.
Mr. Manoukyan has no doubt that the people leading the country to quagmire
must not speak about Constitutional reforms and new ways. He also offers the
Orinats Yerkir party and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation to leave the
coalition and join the opposition. Why them? `The power is centered in the
hands of the members of the Republican Party, and these two parties are
curtains to cover their black deeds’. The leader commented.
VAZGEN MANOUKYAN FOR REBELLION
Vazgen Manoukyan does not intend to participate in the Constitutional
referendum. `Going to the referendum will mean to participate in the game of
the authorities’, he says. He does not advise the society even to say `No’
to the new Constitution. `It would be right to boycott it’.
Saying `No’, according to him, would mean to express an opinion about the
document. Besides, `it is easier to control the boycott that the forgeries’.
And what if the referendum is forged? `In that case we must rebel, we’ve had
enough of this’, he said.

Armenian Youth Federation-YOARF Eastern US
80 Bigelow Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel. (617) 923-1933
Fax (617) 924-1933

PRESS RELEASE ~ September 9, 2005
Contact: Sossi Essajanian
(617) 923-1933
[email protected]
AYF Eastern Region Holds Successful Olympic Games in Washington, D.C.
WATERTOWN, Mass.?From September 2 to 5, approximately 2,500 Armenians
from the East and West Coasts and Canada gathered for the annual
AYF-YOARF Olympic Games, hosted by the Washington Ani chapter.
100 athletes from chapters in Boston, Providence, Philadelphia,
Washington, D.C., New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Racine, Detroit,
Granite City, Fairfield and Toronto competed in swimming, track and
field, golf, tennis, and softball games over Labor Day weekend.
On September 1, before the official start of the games, around 150
Armenian-Americans, led by the AYF Eastern Region, held a protest in
front of the Azeri Embassy in Washington, D.C., calling to attention
the ongoing threats by Azerbaijani government officials to use
military force to deny self-determination to the people of Karabagh.
That evening, guests of the Olympic games went on a “Monuments by
Moonlight Tour” around the capital city, which was followed by a party
at Blue Gin lounge bar.
The Andrews Air Force Base East Golf Course was the gathering place
the following morning; where AYF members and alumni competed in the
golf tournament. Matches of tennis also took place that day at
Catholic University.
Attendees also enjoyed the opportunity for a tour of Washington,
D.C. organized by the Olympics Steering Committee. Later that night,
AYF athletes competed in swimming races in front of a large crowd
cheering them on in the stands at Catholic University.
By night, AYF alumni and supporters gathered for the annual alumni
dance at the official hotel of the games, Grant Hyatt
Washington. Meanwhile, AYF members and guests danced the night away to
the music of the Michael Gostanian Enesemble and DJ Terk, followed by
performances by Nune Yesayan.
On September 3, AYF members woke up early to start the all-day
softball tournament, where teams from New York, Boston, Philadelphia,
Washington, D.C., Granite City/Racine, New Jersey, Chicago, Detroit,
Providence and Toronto battled it out, until around 6:00 p.m., when
the Providence chapter beat out the team from New Jersey in an
action-packed final game.
Singer Nersik Ispiryan, along with the Aravod Ensemble and DJ Terk,
provided the entertainment for the evening.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of music we heard this year. Each
musician and band that performed this weekend brought their own unique
sound to us each evening and the end result was the same, a jam-packed
dance floor,” said Washington AYF chapter member Nora Keomurjian.
Track and field events rounded out the athletic competitions,
beginning at 9:00 a.m. on September 4, at the Archbishop Carroll High
School in Washington. An enthusiastic crowd cheered runners and field
athletes, as they competed in relay races and individual races, as
well field events including shot put, discus and long jump.
Midway through the day, athletes marched with their teams onto the
field for the opening ceremonies. Guests addressing the gathering
included ARF Eastern Region Central Committee chairman Hayg Oshagan;
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan; AYF Central Executive chairman Antranig
Kzirian; and Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Tatoul Markarian.
Then, members of last year’s hosting chapter, the Chicago Ararat
chapter, carried the torch around the track, eventually passing it on
to two members of the Washington Ani chapter, who lit the torch as the
official start of the AYF Olympic games. Prior to the running of the
torch, AYF athletes recited the Olympic oath, pledging good
sportsmanship and to stay “loyal to the traditions of the AYF Olympics
and applaud the victor and defeated alike.”
On Monday, guests attended a farewell picnic near the hotel. “The
games brought our organization together. I felt that everyone
participated in the activities and games during the day, and the
dances at night. Our chapters were especially united this year, during
the protest that we held at the Azeri Embassy before the start of the
games,” said Greater Boston AYF chapter member Anny Deirmenjian.
Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) serves as the
youth organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(YOARF). The AYF stands on five pillars that guide its activities:
education, political awareness, fellowship, athletics and
culture. Moreover, the AYF promotes a fraternal attitude of respect
for the diversity of ideas and individuals amongst its
membership. Unity and cooperation are essential traits that allow
members of the organization to work together and realize its
objectives.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research
395 Concord Avenue
Belmont, MA 02478
Tel.: 617-489-1610
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact: Marc A. Mamigonian
PANEL DISCUSSION ON GENOCIDE EDUCATION TO FEATURE RICHARD HOVANNISIAN

A panel discussion on “Armenian Genocide Education: Reaching Into the
School Curriculum” will take place on Friday, September 30, at 7:30 p.m.
at Belmont High School auditorium on Concord Avenue, Belmont, MA. The
event will be co-sponsored by The National Association for Armenian
Studies and Research, Facing History and Ourselves, and the Armenian
Assembly of America.
Scheduled to take part in the panel are renowned scholar Dr. Richard G.
Hovannisian of the University of California, Los Angeles; Adam Strom,
Director of Research and Development, Facing History and Ourselves;
Margot Stern Strom, Executive Director, Facing History and Ourselves;
and Dr. Henry Theriault, Associate Professor of Philosophy and
Coordinator for the Center on Human Rights at Worcester State College
New Textbook from Facing History and Ourselves
Although there has been tremendous progress in Armenian Genocide studies
over the past several decades, the level of knowledge of even the basic
facts of the catastrophe are still not well known outside of the
Armenian community and some academic circles. A major step toward
expanding awareness of the Genocide is the publication by
Brookline-based Facing History and Ourselves of the textbook Crimes
Against Humanity and Civilization: The Genocide of the Armenians. Since
its publication, scholars of the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, and
Human Rights as well as middle and high school educators have
enthusiastically received the book.
Vital Issues to Be Addressed
The panel discussion on September 30 will serve as the introduction of
the text to the Boston-area Armenian community and provide a forum to
consider vital issues involved in getting the Armenian Genocide taught
in public schools in Massachusetts and around the nation. What are the
best strategies for introducing the Genocide to non-Armenian students
who have no knowledge of the basic facts? What are the long-term
effects of genocide education in terms of genocide prevention? These
and many other issues will be addressed by the distinguished panelists.
Richard Hovannisian explains that “this resource book is unique in its
approaches to the legacy of the Armenian Genocide. It helps students
and teachers to understand that the crime was committed not only against
the Armenians but also against all humanity.”
Margot Stern Strom writes in the Introduction to Crimes Against Humanity
and Civilization: “Soon after the founding of [Facing History and
Ourselves] in 1976, Manoog Young of the National Association for
Armenian Studies and Research approached us with the idea of creating a
study guide on the Armenian Genocide as a companion to Facing History
and Our-selves: Holocaust and Human Behavior. He and others in the
Armenian community were eager to tell the story of what was then a
“forgotten genocide.” [This] marked the beginning of our work with the
history of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.”
Following the panel discussion there will be an opportunity for the
audience to engage in a question-and-answer period with the
participants, and refreshments will be provided in a reception at the
NAASR Center nearby at 395 Concord Ave. in Belmont.
Admission to the event is free (donations accepted). Ample parking is
available at the Belmont High School building and in adjacent areas on
Concord Ave.
More information about the panel is available by calling 617-489-1610,
faxing 617-484-1759, e-mailing [email protected], or writing to NAASR, 395
Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478.
# # # # #
Belmont, Mass.
September 9, 2005

KAREN DAVTYAN LYING?
A1+
| 15:29:55 | 07-09-2005 | Social |
“When Shah Abas came to Armenia, the only church which was not leveled
to earth was the Echmiadzin Holy Temple… P.S. The picture of Shah
Abas was carved on the wall of the temple…”.
The residents of the Buzand street had written on the wall under the
photo of the President Robert Kocharyan. All the houses subject to
destruction have the photos of the President on their walls, as if
intending to delay their destruction. The policemen too became kinder
and did not interfere with this process.
Today the residents of the Buzand street spoke about the words of
the Municipality Investment and Reconstruction department head Karen
Davtyan during yesterday’s press conference. They considered his words
extremely offensive. According to them, Karen Davtyan’s announcement
about the residents of the street who refused to take the 925-940 USD
offered to them for one square meter, does not correspond to reality.
Resident of the Buzand street, victim of “State needs” Sedrak
Baghdasaryan claims, “There are many dark places in this process. By
the Government decision N909 lands have been allotted to the
organizations “Griar”, “Avan Tour” , “Gas Shin”, and “Meliq Gasparyan”
to carry our the construction of the Main Avenue. And what is the
“Griar” LTD? It was created in 2003, and by the Government decision
made in 2004 gets the larger part. The executive director is Arthur
Yordanyan who also works in the Armenian Compulsory Acts Realization
Department Arabkir section. That is, he evicts people from their
houses, securing work for the workers of his department and developing
his business. The second organization, according to the newspaper
“Republic of Armenia” had serious losses in 2004 and must pay more
than03 million drams as tax to the state. A question arises: How do
we trust this organization? What will it do and with what money?”
According to him, the “Griar” LTD must construct a 10-12 storied
living building, one square meter of which will cost 2000 USD. Sedrak
Baghdasaryan announces, “Davtyan says as if we have 30 sq.m. but we
demand 60. It is not so. We have 70 and we demand as much money as
to be able to buy a corresponding house in the same building. In my
case they have calculated about 600 USD for 1 sq.m. minus the income
tax 10%”.

ceHearingsSeptember2005.htm
Tuesday 20 September 2005
Chamber
Hearing on the merits
9 a.m. Fener Rum Erkek Lisesi Vakfi v.Turkey (no. 34478/97) and
Yedikule Surp Pirgic Ermeni Hastanesi Vakfi v. Turkey (nos. 50147/99 and
51207/99)
Both applicants are foundations under Turkish law that were established at
the time of the Ottoman Empire. Fener Rum Erkek Lisesi Vakfi was set up to
provide educational facilities at the Greek Higher Secondary School in Fener
(Istanbul). Yedikule Surp P?rgic Ermeni Hastanesi Vakf? is the foundation
for the Armenian hospital Surp P?rgic in Yedikule. The status of both
foundations complies with the provisions of the Lausanne Treaty of 1923
affording protection to foundations that provide public services for
religious minorities.
In accordance with Law no. 2762 of 13 June 1935, by virtue of which they
obtained legal personality, the applicant foundations filed a declaration in
1936 of their aims and of their immovable property.
In 1952 the Fener Rum Erkek Lisesi Vakfi Foundation received a gift of part
of a building in Istanbul. It purchased another part of the building in
1958. The Yedikule Surp P?rgic Ermeni Hastanesi Vakf? Foundation received
gifts of two properties in Istanbul in 1943 and 1967, one in Beyoglu, the
other in Kad?koy.
In 1992 the Treasury applied to the Turkish courts for an order setting
aside the applicants’ title to the properties and deleting their names from
the land register. In three judgments (on 7 March 1996 in the case of Fener
Rum Erkek Lisesi Vakfi and on 30 October 1997 and 24 February 1998 in the
case of Yedikule Surp P?rgic Ermeni Hastanesi Vakf?), the Istanbul High
Court granted the Treasury’s applications. Referring to a decision of the
Court of Cassation of 8 May 1974, it held that the foundations, whose
membership was made up of religious minorities as defined by the Treaty of
Lausanne and whose constitutive documents did not contain a statement that
they had capacity to acquire immovable property, were precluded from
purchasing or accepting a gift of such property. Accordingly, their
immovable property was restricted to that set out in their constitutive
documents and finalised in the declaration made in 1936, so that they were
precluded from acquiring immovable property.
On appeals on points of law by the applicants, the Court of Cassation upheld
the judgments of the Istanbul High Court in decisions of 9 December 1996, 22
September 1998 and 20 October 1998.
In October 2000 Fener Rum Erkek Lisesi Vakfi applied to the Foundation
Commissioners for permission to amend its status to permit it to acquire
immovable property. However, its application was turned down.
In both cases, the applicants complain of the orders setting aside their
title to the properties. They argue that the Turkish legislation as
interpreted by the domestic courts deprives foundations established by
religious minorities within the meaning of the Lausanne Treaty of all
capacity to acquire immovable property. In their submission, that incapacity
amounts to discrimination when their position is compared to that of other
foundations. The applicants rely on Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 (protection
of property), and Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) taken together
with Article 1 of Protocol No. 1. Yedikule Surp P?rgic Ermeni Hastanesi
Vakf? further complains under Article 6 (right to a fair hearing) that it
did not receive a fair hearing in the Turkish courts.
Decisions, judgments and further information about the Court can be found on its Internet site ().

Registry of the European Court of Human Rights
F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex
Press contacts: Roderick Liddell (telephone: +00 33 (0)3 88 41 24 92)
Emma Hellyer (telephone: +00 33 (0)3 90 21 42 15)
Stephanie Klein (telephone: +00 33 (0)3 88 41 21 54)
Fax: +00 33 (0)3 88 41 27 91
The European Court of Human Rights was set up in Strasbourg by the
Council of Europe Member States in 1959 to deal with alleged
violations of the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights. Since 1
November 1998 it has sat as a full-time Court composed of an equal
number of judges to that of the States party to the Convention. The
Court examines the admissibility and merits of applications submitted
to it. It sits in Chambers of 7 judges or, in exceptional cases, as a
Grand Chamber of 17 judges. The Committee of Ministers of the Council
of Europe supervises the execution of the s judgments.
[1] Under Article 43 of the European Convention on Human Rights,
within three months from the date of a Chamber judgment, any party to
the case may, in exceptional cases, request that the case be referred
to the member Grand Chamber of the Court. In that event, a panel of
five judges considers whether the case raises a serious question
affecting the interpretation or application of the Convention or its
protocols, or a serious issue of general importance, in which case the
Grand Chamber will deliver a final judgment. If no such question or
issue arises, the panel will reject the request, at which point the
judgment becomes final. Otherwise Chamber judgments become final on
the expiry of the three-month period or earlier if the parties declare
that they do not intend to make a request to refer.