Turkologist: Return of property to Christians – a propaganda step

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS:

The decision of Turkey to return the property of the communities of Christian minorities of Turkey is more of propaganda significance, Turkologist Hakob Chakryan told a news conference today.

The Turkologist noted that this order relates to the return of the property belonging to the communities in 1936-1974. He also drew attention on the quantitative change of ethnic minorities in Turkey. "The mentioned property has passed from hands to hands and returning it today will be a rather complicated process. Their return will be very expedient for Turkey as there are neither the recipients nor the dominators", Chakryan pointed out.

Turkologist Artak Shakaryan said there are many sues against Turkey in the European Court of Human Rights demanding the return of the forcibly taken territories. "Besides, in October the report on Turkey's membership to the EU will be published and Turkey tries to create positive impression", Shakaryan said, expressing conviction that the decision made by that country is agreed with the wish to close the eyes of ECHR. "Nevertheless it is a positive decision and creates a good prerequisite but it is a drop in the ocean", he stressed.