Cyprus-Forum.com

[Lit]

Armenian-Americans sue Turkey, banks over losses

(AP) – 4 hours ago

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... wD9H8UCG00

LOS ANGELES — Armenian-Americans have filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against the Turkish government and two major Turkish banks for alleged damages dating back nearly a century.

Attorneys say heirs of Armenians killed and driven out of Turkey in 1915 are entitled to billions of dollars for property seized from their ancestors. They are seeking class-action status for the case filed Thursday.

Attorneys say the case is the first Armenian lawsuit directly naming the Turkish government as a defendant. Also named are the Central Bank of Turkey and T.C., Ziraat Bankasi. E-mails to both banks were not immediately returned.

The lawsuit says the property taken includes businesses, bank deposits and vast amounts of land. Lawyers say some priceless artifacts seized are now on display in Turkish museums.

[Lit]

Events in Turkey From 1915 Find Way to Los Angeles Federal Court

By Ashby Jones
WSJ.com:

turkeyarmeniaIn recent years, most of the debate in this country concerning the events that led to the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 has revolved around whether they should be classified as genocide on the part of Turkey.

But a lawsuit filed on Thursday in Los Angeles asks a different question: whether the heirs of the Armenians whose property was allegedly seized should be able to recover for their losses.

Full Story: http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2010/07/30/eve ... ral-court/