Recently, the Turkish newspaper Habertürk reported that Armenia and the Armenian lobby are preparing a claim to land in Turkey, where Istanbul Ataturk International Airport and the Cankaya Palace in Ankara are located.
Armenia and the Armenian lobby in connection with the centenary of the so-called "Armenian genocide" filed a lawsuit against Turkey for the return of lands, which, according to them, were taken from some Armenians during the events of 1915.
In addition, a resident of the United States, writer of Armenian origin Haroot Sassouniyan, said that in the very near future Armenia and the Armenian lobby intend to take serious steps to ensure that this claim was considered by the court.
On January 3 of this year the writer of Armenian origin Zuart Sutsiyan residing in the United States, raised the issue that land in the Turkish town of Diyarbakir, where the airport is located, belonged to his grandfather. Sutsiyan appealed to a court of Turkey and presented documents that alleged the land on which the airport is located belonged to his grandfather. The court is now exploring the authenticity of submitted documents.
With the upcoming 100th anniversary of the so-called "Armenian genocide", commemorated on April 24, more claims and accusations are being heard against Turkey. Territorial and financial claims against Turkey have become a kind of leitmotif of Armenian public opinion both in Armenia and in the diaspora, mainly in the western one.
The correspondent of the Vestnik Kavkaza asked Turkish historians and political scientists, whether the Armenian claims are justified and have a legal basis, and why exactly this time Armenia risked making such dangerous political manoevres for the whole region?
Historian and author of "The Armenian Question in 120 Documents from Russian State Archives" Mehmet Perindzhek noticed that after the deportation in 1915 part of the property that the Armenians left passed into public ownership or is used by individuals. He pointed out that even before the end of the First World War, the Ottoman government by order of the allied states returned property to Armenian returnees or their heirs. "Return of property was also implied by the Lausanne Peace Treaty for all those who returned, without any mention of the Armenian population in the treaty itself," the historian claimed.
Perindzhek noted that under this treaty many people received their lands, but some claims, because of the great period of time passed, were not satisfied. "As a result, today it is impossible to return the property to the heirs of deported Armenians," the historian said.
Another Turkish political analyst, Cenk Bashlamyshly, said that in Turkey property owned by Armenians who fled the country in 1915 can actually be returned.
"Certainly, if there are unfair moments, they should be considered, and the property returned to the heirs. But the main question is how it will be proved that it actually belongs to them?" wondered the analyst, adding that lawyers and jurists should express their opinion. Despite this fact, Bashlamyshly is sure that the requirements of the Armenian side are taken from the world of "fiction", because it is impossible to believe their appropriateness.
Political analyst also noted that the campaign for establishing claims on property and territories in Turkey was made by Armenians on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the events of 1915 and was expected, and the closer April 24 approaches, the more the accusations against Turkey will be strengthened.
"The most interesting thing is why these claims are heard only now, on the eve of the anniversary of those events? Of course, we express our condolences to those who lost loved ones. But events show that some representatives of the Armenian diaspora are looking at this issue as a matter of personal gain," the analyst concluded.
