Email a copy of 'Sassounian: Patriarchate’s Bold Move to Sue Turkish Government' to a friend
Loading ...
Harut Sassounian
California Courier Editor
Harut Sassounian is the publisher of The California Courier, a weekly newspaper based in Glendale, Calif. He is the president of the Armenia Artsakh Fund, a non-profit organization that has donated to Armenia and Artsakh one billion dollars of humanitarian aid, mostly medicines, since 1989 (including its predecessor, the United Armenian Fund). He has been decorated by the presidents of Armenia and Artsakh and the heads of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic churches. He is also the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
I agree that this is both a bold and welcome move. As the most important and visible institution and legacy connection to our historic properties, the church must take a leadership role. It is true that many of us in the western diaspora have not always understood the position and approach of the Armenians living in Turkey. It is a difficult environment especially for political and human rights activism. I think we all intuitively expect Armenians to be free to express our support of Armenian issues, but I think the murder of Hrant Dink has given us a reality check. All the more reason for courageous leaders to step forward and not let Hrant’s death be in vain.
The Turks are learning that genocide leaves an infinite trail…..stolen properties, political causes to redress the wrongs and generations of descendants motivated by the silenced voices of their ancestors to endlessly pursue justice. This is another front in the long road to justice. Our brethren in Turkey have an important role. One day , historians will write that lengthy pursuit of justice was one of the Armenian nation’s finest hours…. that they didn’t forget and generations later they succeeded in reconciling our grief.
Some conveniently forget that prior to the ¨bold move¨ that Mr. Sassounian refers to ,by the acting Patriaarch/Patriarchate,sueing the Turkish Government, said issue of return of all chrisitian and /or jewish confiscated properties by Ottoman Turkey to be returned to lawfull owners,was raised in the U.S. Congress and ¨reccomended to ¨ ally republic of Turkey.
In consequence of which the turkish governement softened up and Prime Mr. Erdogan ordered to attend to the issue.
This in return might have been prompted,if you wish,when the Law criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide was passed,the other side of the ocean in France. Which was the doing of Mr. Sarkozy,president of France. After his official visit to Armenia,where he first anounced loud and clear, word, Genocide.Yes, he repeated in Armenian as well that it was ¨Tseghasbanutyun¨.
It must have reverberrated quite paludibly,both far away and also next door.
It now remains to be seen if it will be the beginning of a slow but continuous process of return of properties ,then material losses.Latter no doubt feasible,as well.
Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul after many years of hesitation since 1936, has now acted after the Turkish government enacted a measure that went into effect on Aug. 27, 2011, to return properties seized from minority foundations through the 1936 Declaration.
Well, I am not sure to call this as a ‘BOLD’ move by the Patriarchate, but I’m sure it is a the ‘RIGHT’ move based on current Turkey’s intent to settle minority foundations dispute!
This follows an earlier Istanbul court ruling in favor of the Surp Pırgic Armenian Hospital-Foundation to impose an interim injunction over foundation lands that had been expropriated by the state and transferred over to Zeytinburnu Municipality in 1985.
After all, everybody knows why this sudden Turkish laws came from.
It’s the result of Diaspora activities through various government departments and parliaments to force Turkey to abide international laws.
Does Armenian Patriachate of Istanbul know about this? I’m not sure!
But, most important is that this time Patriarchate acted in time and lodged their claims after Armenian Hospital-Foundation.
And what about Turks and Azeris suing Armenia for destroying all but one mosque in all of Armenia? Why don’t we discuss this, just as you’re all discussing this article?!!
International courts aren’t going anywhere you know. Take the “advice” you give to Armenians, if you have something to prove, take it to court.
Ok Robert, here’s what you do. Provide the locations and details of the all the different mosques to the authorities in Moscow and then begin negotiations with the Russians- the inheritors of the Soviet Union- on having perhaps having them rebuilt and transferred to Turkish control (although you might run afoul of the Iranians on this one as they would also have a claim)- Remember, it was the Soviets who destroyed numerous churches in Armenia as well as a few mosques, however many there were. Let me also remind you that what mosques that remained after the Soviet period have been maintained by the Armenians.
Robert
Your comparison is so ridiculous that does not warrant an answer, but for those who might be interested in the question, most of the mosques in Armenia , which were not many, were ruined or fell into state of dilapidation, like many churches, in the Soviet period. The only ramaining one which was in a half-ruined state at the end of Soviet era, was reconstructed and renovated by the government of Armenia after independance. Also the mosque in Shusha is now being reconstructed. Confiscating or ruining places of worship of the religious minorities has never been a state policy in Armenia, in contrast to the policy of successive Turkish governments. Stop this nonsense.
And Robert writes:
And what about Turks and Azeris suing Armenia for destroying all but one mosque in all of Armenia? Why don’t we discuss this, just as you’re all discussing this article?!!
Good Idea Robert ! Let the Turks and Azeris sue Armenia…