Descendants of Armenian genocide in Turkey may receive compensation up to $ 100 billion - expert
03.08.2010,
23:45
Descendants of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire in total may be eligible for compensation up to $ 100 billion, the Armenian turkologist Artak Shakaryan said.
YEREVAN, August 3. / ARKA /. Descendants of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire in total may be eligible for compensation up to $ 100 billion, the Armenian turkologist Artak Shakaryan said.
"The Armenians are not the first time to impose a demand for compensation for lost property to Turkey. In 1919, at the Paris Peace Conference Armenians were talking about lost property of 19 billion francs. After the recalculation in 1925 the amount of compensation turned into 14.5 billion francs, which by today's standards is up to $ 100 billion," said Shakaryan at a press conference on Tuesday.
Two Californian Armenians - Carbis Davoyan and Hrayr Turabyan, recently filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court of Los Angeles against the Turkish government and the two major Turkish banks - Central Bank and the Bank Ziraat Bankasi, in force since 1860, demanding compensation for damage suffered during the Armenian Genocide.
Davoyan and Turabyan put forward a claim to compensate for real estate and property of their ancestors, including the priceless relics that are now in museums in Turkey.
As reported by Shakaryan, although currently the Californian plaintiffs have not decided on the exact size of the required compensation, but the claim itself is an important event, given that they filed not against non-private, but state banks and state as a whole.
The turkologist recalled that earlier the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the French insurer AXA and the American New York Life Insurance to pay compensation to the descendants of victims of genocide and acknowledged the Armenian Genocide.
At the same time, the expert pointed out the danger of the process initiated by the Armenians of California, recalling that last year the Ninth U.S. Federal Court of Appeal quashed the lower court decision recognizing the Armenian Genocide, explaining it so that the matter is the responsibility of the president and the U.S. administration.
"Thus, the claim of the Armenians of California is sent not as much for the compensation, but the abolition of the Federal Court. In addition, we must not forget that we are approaching the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide ... Some experts believe that the trial will last about three to four years and may be completed on the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide," said Shakaryan.
As reported by the turkologist, currently some anti-Turkish sentiment has been formed in the United States because of the good relations with Turkey, Iran and the complicated Turkish-Israeli contacts.
Shakaryan also noted that the U.S. administration is trying to win the votes of the Armenian electorate, which may also positively influence the process.
Armenian genocide (1915-1923) was the first genocide committed in XX century.
Turkey rejects the accusation of massacres and the killing of one and a half million Armenians during World War I.
As a result of massacres and deportations about 1.5 million people were killed, 350 thousands of Armenians fled to the Caucasus and Europe and 150 thousand of the 2 million Armenians were left in Turkey living there at the beginning of XX century.
The fact of the Armenian genocide is recognized by many countries, particularly by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, 42 of the 50 U.S. states, as well as by the parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Argentina, Belgium, Wales, National Council of Switzerland, Common House of Canada, the Seym of Poland and lower house of Italian parliament. --0--
"The Armenians are not the first time to impose a demand for compensation for lost property to Turkey. In 1919, at the Paris Peace Conference Armenians were talking about lost property of 19 billion francs. After the recalculation in 1925 the amount of compensation turned into 14.5 billion francs, which by today's standards is up to $ 100 billion," said Shakaryan at a press conference on Tuesday.
Two Californian Armenians - Carbis Davoyan and Hrayr Turabyan, recently filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court of Los Angeles against the Turkish government and the two major Turkish banks - Central Bank and the Bank Ziraat Bankasi, in force since 1860, demanding compensation for damage suffered during the Armenian Genocide.
Davoyan and Turabyan put forward a claim to compensate for real estate and property of their ancestors, including the priceless relics that are now in museums in Turkey.
As reported by Shakaryan, although currently the Californian plaintiffs have not decided on the exact size of the required compensation, but the claim itself is an important event, given that they filed not against non-private, but state banks and state as a whole.
The turkologist recalled that earlier the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the French insurer AXA and the American New York Life Insurance to pay compensation to the descendants of victims of genocide and acknowledged the Armenian Genocide.
At the same time, the expert pointed out the danger of the process initiated by the Armenians of California, recalling that last year the Ninth U.S. Federal Court of Appeal quashed the lower court decision recognizing the Armenian Genocide, explaining it so that the matter is the responsibility of the president and the U.S. administration.
"Thus, the claim of the Armenians of California is sent not as much for the compensation, but the abolition of the Federal Court. In addition, we must not forget that we are approaching the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide ... Some experts believe that the trial will last about three to four years and may be completed on the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide," said Shakaryan.
As reported by the turkologist, currently some anti-Turkish sentiment has been formed in the United States because of the good relations with Turkey, Iran and the complicated Turkish-Israeli contacts.
Shakaryan also noted that the U.S. administration is trying to win the votes of the Armenian electorate, which may also positively influence the process.
Armenian genocide (1915-1923) was the first genocide committed in XX century.
Turkey rejects the accusation of massacres and the killing of one and a half million Armenians during World War I.
As a result of massacres and deportations about 1.5 million people were killed, 350 thousands of Armenians fled to the Caucasus and Europe and 150 thousand of the 2 million Armenians were left in Turkey living there at the beginning of XX century.
The fact of the Armenian genocide is recognized by many countries, particularly by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, 42 of the 50 U.S. states, as well as by the parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Argentina, Belgium, Wales, National Council of Switzerland, Common House of Canada, the Seym of Poland and lower house of Italian parliament. --0--
