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ARMENIA HEIRS WIN $17M AXA PAYOUT WHILE TURKEY PROTESTS
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Oct 16 2005
Cezmi ERSUZER, Turgut YENI and Jan SOYKOK, JTW (LOS ANGELES,
ANKARA and LONDON) - The descendants of Armenians who died in the
late Ottoman period have agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit
against French insurance giant Axa. The case, filed in California,
accused Axa of failing to pay death benefits on policies bought by
Armenians who died. Under the deal, the firm will pay $17m (£9.7m)
to Armenian charitable groups.
Armenians say 1.5m of their people were killed or deported under
Ottoman Turkish rule in 1915. Turkey does not accept there was
a systematic massacre. Turkish historians and documents say more
than 520.000 Turkish people were massacred by the armed Armenian
groups and many Armenians were killed in the communal clashes and
war circumstances.
Under the terms of the settlement, announced in Los Angeles, Axa will
donate at least $3m to selected French-based Armenian charities.
Another $11m has been earmarked for the heirs of policyholders with
subsidiaries of Axa that operated in the Ottoman Turkish Empire
before 1915.
Axa is a French company and there is a strong Armenian diaspora
in France. Yesim Sahiner from ISRO says that Axa has no choice but
compromise: "The Axa company will pays millions of dollars, but it
will earn more. There are more than 300.000 Armenians in France and
they have close friends in the Government and political circles. By
the way California is home for another strong-Armenian diaspora in
the world" Sahiner added.
'ULTIMATE GOAL'
In the chaos that followed the killings, many were unable to obtain
their insurance proceeds, lawyers for the claimants said. Most of the
Armenians died due to the bad weather, famine and communal clashes,
while about 1 million Armenians reached Syria, Caucasia and other
destinations. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians joined the Russian
side against their state during the First World War.
The Axa settlement is expected to be approved by California's District
Court in November. The US state is home to the world's largest
population of Armenians outside their own country. The Armenian
diaspora's population is bigger than population of Armenia.
The diaspora is also more powerful than Armenia in terms of finance
and political influence.
Dr. Sedat Laciner, Turkish Armenian expert and director of ISRO,
says the Armenian Diaspora has a secret agenda. "The diaspora tries
to get territory and great economic compensations from Turkey. They
follow the Jewish example. They see the 1915 events a great chance
to get economic and political advantages." Dr. Laciner added. However
Laciner argues that the way Armenians follow is wrong: "They actually
harm Turkey-Armenia relations and make the life harder for Armenia.
They just focus on their own interests instead of focusing on Armenia's
security and economy."
TURKS ARE ANGRY
Axa has not yet commented on the deal, which will be administered in
France. The company has business in Turkey and Turkish media argues
that the Turkish partner Oyak has to end the co-operation with Axa.
The French Insurance giant, AXA's, announcement to pay compensation
to the Armenians in the US, who went to court with the allegation
of "genocide," drew great reactions in Turkey. The French company
owns 50 percent of AXA-OYAK (the Turkish Armed Forces Pension Fund)
partnership in the Turkish insurance sector, which added a new
dimension to the issue. Non-governmental organizations asked OYAK
to give an end to the partnership. Turkish Grand Union Party (BBP)
leader Muhsin Yazicioglu termed the issue as "a very serious situation"
and called OYAK to break up with the French company.
Turkish Jurists Association Board of Directors member Kemal Kerincsiz
underlined that the material benefits are not important in this
matter. The development drew reaction also in Zonguldak Eregli
where Erdemir facilities, in which OYAK proposed $2.77 billion, is
situated. Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Ahmet Likoglu said,
"This is unacceptable."
In Zaman's headline "OYAK's Partner AXA Agrees to Pay $17 Million
to Heirs of Armenians" on Friday, it was noted that the relatives
of the Armenians, who lost their lives during the forced migration
in 1915, had filed a class-action against AXA in California. The
French company agreed to pay $17 million to the plaintiffs before the
case was concluded. The Armenians that went to the court said their
relatives had life insurance from AXA during the Ottoman era and
asked for compensation on allegations that they "died in the genocide".
Regarding OYAK's French partner's acceptance to pay compensation to
the Armenians with the allegation of "genocide," BBP leader Muhsin
Yazicioglu said it was "a very serious situation;" paying compensation
can be considered natural in legal terms he said, but that making
this payment under the name of genocide is thought-provoking.
Can Baydarol from Istanbul Commerce University expressed the OYAK-AXA
relationship must absolutely be revised. The world view represented
by OYAK is clear, Baydarol reckoned.
Kemal Cetinoglu from Ankara-based ISRO told the JTW that "it is
ironic. OYAK is a army company and now they have business with AXA.
Turkish people are very angry about the decision. They may protest
the company. I am sure that the decision will harm Axa's business
in Turkey." According to Cetinoglu, the business opportunities in
France and US are more important for the Axa company. "That's why they
accepted the Armenian allegations though they know that the claims are
baseless. They just consider how much they will earn or lose" he added.
ANY COMPENSATION MUST BE PREVENTED
Turkish Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) Chairman Sinan Aygun said the
issue of forced migration will develop against Turkey if OYAK's French
partner AXA pays the compensation to the Armenians. Aygun, who defended
that this must not be allowed since the rest will follow, said: "The
result of the compensation will mean that Armenia's dream has come
true. Here AXA agrees to pay the compensation before the decision
is ratified by the court. In other words, it accepts the Armenians
claims. I strongly condemn this." The OYAK Group, he further said,
must immediately step in and say "We have documents that Armenians
massacred the Turks" and prevent paying the compensation.
AXA CASE THE SECOND OF ITS KIND
The Axa case was the second of its kind to be brought in US courts.
Earlier, New York Life Insurance Company agreed to pay $20m (£11.4m)
to descendants of Armenian policyholders who died in 1915.
Lawyer Mark Geragos said the settlements were "important building
blocks... [towards]our ultimate goal, which is for Turkey and the US
to officially acknowledge the genocide".
Turkey says up to 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died
during civil strife in eastern Turkey during World War I, but angrily
rejects the allegation of a "genocide" of Armenians. The Armenians
rioted against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War while
the Ottoman armies were in clashes in against the Russian Empire
Armies. The Armenian armed groups attacked the Ottoman Army and
villages. The Istanbul Government decided to immigrate the Armenian
population near the war theatre to the southern provinces until the
end of the war. However thousands of Armenians lost their lives
during the 1915 relocation campaign. The bad weather conditions,
famine, epidemic diseases and communal clashes hit the immigrants.
Though the government allowed the Armenians to return their home
when the war ends, many could not return to Anatolia. Most of the
Armenians in the eastern towns supported the occupying French and
Russian armies against their Muslim neighbors and this caused great
clashes between two sides. After the First World War, the Armenians
argued that they were in war against the Ottoman Empire and they had
to be included in the peace negotiations. When the Ottoman Empire
collapsed and Turkish Republic established the new Turkish government
invited all Armenians to return Anatolia. However most of them had
immigrated to Armenia, Middle Eastern countries, Western Europe and
United States. Some Turkish historians argue that more than half
million of Turkish people were massacred by the Armenians.
--Boundary_(ID_PdrzWm3zhvYM/qxZV7xQWQ) --
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Oct 16 2005
Cezmi ERSUZER, Turgut YENI and Jan SOYKOK, JTW (LOS ANGELES,
ANKARA and LONDON) - The descendants of Armenians who died in the
late Ottoman period have agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit
against French insurance giant Axa. The case, filed in California,
accused Axa of failing to pay death benefits on policies bought by
Armenians who died. Under the deal, the firm will pay $17m (£9.7m)
to Armenian charitable groups.
Armenians say 1.5m of their people were killed or deported under
Ottoman Turkish rule in 1915. Turkey does not accept there was
a systematic massacre. Turkish historians and documents say more
than 520.000 Turkish people were massacred by the armed Armenian
groups and many Armenians were killed in the communal clashes and
war circumstances.
Under the terms of the settlement, announced in Los Angeles, Axa will
donate at least $3m to selected French-based Armenian charities.
Another $11m has been earmarked for the heirs of policyholders with
subsidiaries of Axa that operated in the Ottoman Turkish Empire
before 1915.
Axa is a French company and there is a strong Armenian diaspora
in France. Yesim Sahiner from ISRO says that Axa has no choice but
compromise: "The Axa company will pays millions of dollars, but it
will earn more. There are more than 300.000 Armenians in France and
they have close friends in the Government and political circles. By
the way California is home for another strong-Armenian diaspora in
the world" Sahiner added.
'ULTIMATE GOAL'
In the chaos that followed the killings, many were unable to obtain
their insurance proceeds, lawyers for the claimants said. Most of the
Armenians died due to the bad weather, famine and communal clashes,
while about 1 million Armenians reached Syria, Caucasia and other
destinations. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians joined the Russian
side against their state during the First World War.
The Axa settlement is expected to be approved by California's District
Court in November. The US state is home to the world's largest
population of Armenians outside their own country. The Armenian
diaspora's population is bigger than population of Armenia.
The diaspora is also more powerful than Armenia in terms of finance
and political influence.
Dr. Sedat Laciner, Turkish Armenian expert and director of ISRO,
says the Armenian Diaspora has a secret agenda. "The diaspora tries
to get territory and great economic compensations from Turkey. They
follow the Jewish example. They see the 1915 events a great chance
to get economic and political advantages." Dr. Laciner added. However
Laciner argues that the way Armenians follow is wrong: "They actually
harm Turkey-Armenia relations and make the life harder for Armenia.
They just focus on their own interests instead of focusing on Armenia's
security and economy."
TURKS ARE ANGRY
Axa has not yet commented on the deal, which will be administered in
France. The company has business in Turkey and Turkish media argues
that the Turkish partner Oyak has to end the co-operation with Axa.
The French Insurance giant, AXA's, announcement to pay compensation
to the Armenians in the US, who went to court with the allegation
of "genocide," drew great reactions in Turkey. The French company
owns 50 percent of AXA-OYAK (the Turkish Armed Forces Pension Fund)
partnership in the Turkish insurance sector, which added a new
dimension to the issue. Non-governmental organizations asked OYAK
to give an end to the partnership. Turkish Grand Union Party (BBP)
leader Muhsin Yazicioglu termed the issue as "a very serious situation"
and called OYAK to break up with the French company.
Turkish Jurists Association Board of Directors member Kemal Kerincsiz
underlined that the material benefits are not important in this
matter. The development drew reaction also in Zonguldak Eregli
where Erdemir facilities, in which OYAK proposed $2.77 billion, is
situated. Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Ahmet Likoglu said,
"This is unacceptable."
In Zaman's headline "OYAK's Partner AXA Agrees to Pay $17 Million
to Heirs of Armenians" on Friday, it was noted that the relatives
of the Armenians, who lost their lives during the forced migration
in 1915, had filed a class-action against AXA in California. The
French company agreed to pay $17 million to the plaintiffs before the
case was concluded. The Armenians that went to the court said their
relatives had life insurance from AXA during the Ottoman era and
asked for compensation on allegations that they "died in the genocide".
Regarding OYAK's French partner's acceptance to pay compensation to
the Armenians with the allegation of "genocide," BBP leader Muhsin
Yazicioglu said it was "a very serious situation;" paying compensation
can be considered natural in legal terms he said, but that making
this payment under the name of genocide is thought-provoking.
Can Baydarol from Istanbul Commerce University expressed the OYAK-AXA
relationship must absolutely be revised. The world view represented
by OYAK is clear, Baydarol reckoned.
Kemal Cetinoglu from Ankara-based ISRO told the JTW that "it is
ironic. OYAK is a army company and now they have business with AXA.
Turkish people are very angry about the decision. They may protest
the company. I am sure that the decision will harm Axa's business
in Turkey." According to Cetinoglu, the business opportunities in
France and US are more important for the Axa company. "That's why they
accepted the Armenian allegations though they know that the claims are
baseless. They just consider how much they will earn or lose" he added.
ANY COMPENSATION MUST BE PREVENTED
Turkish Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) Chairman Sinan Aygun said the
issue of forced migration will develop against Turkey if OYAK's French
partner AXA pays the compensation to the Armenians. Aygun, who defended
that this must not be allowed since the rest will follow, said: "The
result of the compensation will mean that Armenia's dream has come
true. Here AXA agrees to pay the compensation before the decision
is ratified by the court. In other words, it accepts the Armenians
claims. I strongly condemn this." The OYAK Group, he further said,
must immediately step in and say "We have documents that Armenians
massacred the Turks" and prevent paying the compensation.
AXA CASE THE SECOND OF ITS KIND
The Axa case was the second of its kind to be brought in US courts.
Earlier, New York Life Insurance Company agreed to pay $20m (£11.4m)
to descendants of Armenian policyholders who died in 1915.
Lawyer Mark Geragos said the settlements were "important building
blocks... [towards]our ultimate goal, which is for Turkey and the US
to officially acknowledge the genocide".
Turkey says up to 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died
during civil strife in eastern Turkey during World War I, but angrily
rejects the allegation of a "genocide" of Armenians. The Armenians
rioted against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War while
the Ottoman armies were in clashes in against the Russian Empire
Armies. The Armenian armed groups attacked the Ottoman Army and
villages. The Istanbul Government decided to immigrate the Armenian
population near the war theatre to the southern provinces until the
end of the war. However thousands of Armenians lost their lives
during the 1915 relocation campaign. The bad weather conditions,
famine, epidemic diseases and communal clashes hit the immigrants.
Though the government allowed the Armenians to return their home
when the war ends, many could not return to Anatolia. Most of the
Armenians in the eastern towns supported the occupying French and
Russian armies against their Muslim neighbors and this caused great
clashes between two sides. After the First World War, the Armenians
argued that they were in war against the Ottoman Empire and they had
to be included in the peace negotiations. When the Ottoman Empire
collapsed and Turkish Republic established the new Turkish government
invited all Armenians to return Anatolia. However most of them had
immigrated to Armenia, Middle Eastern countries, Western Europe and
United States. Some Turkish historians argue that more than half
million of Turkish people were massacred by the Armenians.
--Boundary_(ID_PdrzWm3zhvYM/qxZV7xQWQ) --