His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians speaks to Voice of America

WASHINGTON—His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians said the Holy See of Etchmiadzin may also file legal claims to reclaim church properties confiscated from Turkey.

In an interview with Voice of America radio, Karekin II said that steps were being taken to assess the matter.

“An instruction has been given and this matter is being studied to reveal the relevant documents. This process requires great efforts to reveal the archive documents and prepare a well-grounded legal package,” Karekin II told VOA.

“We believe that Turkey has no alternative to facing its history, recognizing and condemning the Armenian genocide and restoring justice towards our people,” added the Catholicos in the interview.

Last week, during a telephone press conference from Washington, Karekin II told reporters that the lawsuit filed last month in Turkey’s Constitutional Court by the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia to regain ownership of the historic headquarters of the Armenian Church is Sis (currently Kozan), in south-central Turkey was a “positive” step.

“We believe these are the first steps in order to continue the demand of the rights of the Armenian people,” said Karekin II expressing hope that the lawsuit will have a positive outcome.

The pontiff explained that the Armenian Church holds properties, which were confiscated by Turkey during the Armenian Genocide and lawsuits such as the one filed last week seek to regain those properties and have it returned to the church.

Karekin II said that the lawsuit was a positive first step to bring justice to the Armenian people.