Surp Holy Cross Tibrevank Armenian Church granted foundation status
TODAY’S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL
20/4/2012
The Foundations Council of Turkey’s Directorate General for Foundations (VGM) has granted foundation status to the Surp Holy Cross Tibrevank Armenian Church. The decision to grant the church foundation status was discussed at a meeting of the Foundations Council on Wednesday.
The council noted that the request by the Armenian church to be granted foundation status is in line with the relevant laws on foundations. The council also decided to return two Armenian cemeteries to Kınalıada Surp Krikor Lusavoriç Armenian Church School and Cemetery Foundation and the Üsküdar Profiti İlya Greek Orthodox Church and School Foundation in line with their request.
Last year, the Turkish government adopted a decree to return all confiscated immovable property belonging to minority foundations in Turkey. According to this decree, published in the Official Gazette last August, minority foundations will be able to reclaim real property they had declared before 1936. All real property, cemeteries and fountains will be returned to their rightful owners. Foundations will be compensated for immoveable property currently owned by third parties.
