Seized Property Returned to Armenian Foundation

ISTANBUL — A large piece of land confiscated from the Surp Pirgic Armenian Hospital Foundation in the 1970s has been returned to the foundation, Today’s Zaman reports quoting Agos weekly.

The 42,000-square-meter property located in Zeytinburnu, just across from the Surp Pirgic Armenian Hospital, was returned to the hospital foundation in a decision made by the Directorate General for Foundations (VGM) that came following two meetings held by the VGM in October 2013. The property deed was officially changed to record the foundation as the owner on Jan. 22, 2014.

“Our dreams, after years of struggle, have finally come true,” said chairman of the foundation’s board of directors Bedros Sirinoglu. “Turkey’s Armenian community has regained a very important asset. This [decision] will enable our foundation and our society to view the future in a more secure light.” Sirinoglu thanked the prime minister and the relevant authorities for their role in enabling the property return.

In 2012, 10 percent of the Zeytinburnu property was returned to the foundation. The most recent decision transferred the remaining bulk of the land to its rightful owner.

Within the last 10 years, 143 of 661 immovable properties seized from Armenian foundations have been returned, according to the weekly’s report.