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Accounting Of Confiscated Turkish Churches Sought

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  • Accounting Of Confiscated Turkish Churches Sought

    ACCOUNTING OF CONFISCATED TURKISH CHURCHES SOUGHT

    Glendale News Press, CA
    July 4 2014

    Area's Armenian community leaders applaud as bill passes through the
    House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

    By Brittany Levine July 4, 2014 | 11:11 a.m.

    Armenian community leaders in Glendale and Burbank are cheering
    this week as a congressional bill that calls for an accounting of
    confiscated Christian churches, monasteries, and other religious
    properties in Turkey and their eventual return to their former
    Christian owners has transcended an initial hurdle.

    The bill, called the Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act,
    passed the House Committee on Foreign Affairs last week. Although the
    bill has several more steps to go, including getting on the schedule to
    be reviewed by the full House of Representatives, Armenian community
    leaders are inspired by its progress, tying it to a larger fight for
    recognition of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-18 at the hands of the
    Ottoman Turks.

    "The issue of the genocide has been muffled. It has been muted,"
    Armen Hovannisian, president of the Armenian Bar Assn., said by phone
    this week. "This is a wonderful change, a breathtaking inspiration."

    Although American government officials have individually recognized
    the genocide, American presidents and Turkish leaders have not.

    Hovannisian said the bill was a welcome sign as Armenians worldwide
    will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the genocide next year.

    Turkish authorities, though, denounced the bill.

    The Turkish Foreign Ministry lashed out last week, condemning the
    bill in a statement for its "groundless criticism, false information
    and baseless accusations on the situation of Christian heritage in
    Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus."

    The statement goes on to describe bill proponents as "anti-Turkish
    circles in the U.S. Congress" and no matter how far it goes, it is
    "null and void as far as Turkey is concerned."

    It's not unusual for Congress to pass a bill requesting action from
    another nation that may be adverse to the initiative, Hovannisian said.

    According to the bill, introduced by Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) and
    Rep. Eliot Engel (D-New York), Christian communities have faced many
    obstacles to regain control over stolen and confiscated properties,
    some of which have been destroyed or converted into mosques, storage
    facilities or museums. Although Turkish authorities have worked to
    return some properties in the past, there is more to be done, the
    bill states.

    In addition to the Armenian Bar Assn., Archbishop Moushegh
    Mardirossian, prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
    Western Prelacy headquartered in La Crescenta, Rev. Joseph Matossian,
    minister to the Armenian Evangelical United of North America based in
    Glendale, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, primate of the Western Diocese
    of the Armenian Church of North America located in Burbank and the
    Armenian National Committee of America supported the bill.

    "With profound thanks and gratitude we salute this righteous and bold
    decision by the House Foreign Affairs Committee," Mardirossian said
    in a statement Thursday. "With hopeful anticipation we look forward
    to the day when our sacred properties are returned to their rightful
    owners and all religious and ethnic minorities can live in peace
    without threat of persecution."

    Matossian echoed his optimism.

    "It's not a show. Hopefully it will proceed, but it needs to be
    pursued. Perseverance is important, focusing on the issue is important
    and marching forward," he said. "I believe in going all the way. You
    just don't start the match or tournament or something just to stop
    as it gets a little tough."

    http://www.glendalenewspress.com/news/tn-gnp-accounting-of-confiscated-turkish-churches-sought-20140704,0,586123.story

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