Turkey Returns Seized Properties to Bulgaria

Diplomacy | August 29, 2011, Monday // 09:16|  views

The Turkish government has published a decree for the returning of all properties seized by the State in the last 75 years to minorities, their foundations or individual representatives, including those from Bulgaria. File photo

A Bulgarian seminary building and a hospital are among the top valued properties Turkey is set to return to Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian Standart (Standard) daily writes Monday that the Turkish government has published a decree for the returning of all properties seized by the Turkish State in the last 75 years to minorities, their foundations or individual representatives.

This move paves the way for the Bulgarian Church Board of Trustees to get back most of its 45 properties, located in Turkey.

The decision comes in the eve of the Holly for Muslims Ramadan Bayram.

"We will ask to have all properties, including churches, cemeteries, and water fountains, purchased after 1936 and later appropriated, to be returned and to receive reimbursement for those that have already been sold," Dimitar Atanasov, an advisor to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I, is quoted saying. He further explained he was going to a dinner with Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayipp Erdogan, to discuss the matter.

Seized Bulgarian properties are located in Istanbul, Edirne and other towns and cities.

The Turkiye newspaper is currently housed in the Bulgarian hospital building in Istanbul.

All wishing to reinstate their properties must submit an application within 12 months after the amendment becomes effective.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!


Tags: Recep Tayipp Erdogan, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I, Edirne, Istanbul, seminary, hospital, Bulgaria, properties, seized, turkey

Back  

» Related Articles:

Search

Search