TURKISH MINORITY FOUNDATIONS OWN OVER 2,000 ESTATES
Ahmet DÝnc

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Nov 13 2007

The foundations established by various minorities in Turkey own
over 2,000 immovables (buildings and land holdings), most of
which are located in Ýstanbul districts where real estate prices
are generally higher, according to a recent study conducted by the
General Directorate of Foundations.

The study contains such details as provinces, districts, neighborhoods,
islets and lots where these immovables are located.

Balýklý Greek Hospital Foundation owns 327 immovables, which is
the highest number among the minority foundations. Also, Greek and
Armenian minorities tend to own more immovables than Jewish minorities.

Some 2,235 immovables are owned by 147 minority foundations in
Turkey. In terms of ownership of high numbers of immovables, the
Balýklý Greek Hospital Foundation is followed by the Yedikule Surp
Pýrgýc Armenian Church Foundation with 162; Kurtuluþ Aya Dimitri Aya
Tanaþ Aya Lefter Aya Kiryaki Church and Primary School Foundation
with 73.

Arnavutkoy Aya Stirati Taksi Arhi Greek Orthodox Church Foundation
have 63; and Bulgarian Ekzarhlýðý Orthodox Church Foundation 57
estates. The Catholic Georgians have 12, Syriacs eight and Catholic
Chaldeans only one. Orthodox Turks own 10 immovables, all of which are
located in Beyoðlu and are owned by the Independent Turkish Orthodox
Church and Patriarchate Foundation.

Haskoy Turkish Karaim Jewish Foundation owns seven immovables, five of
which are located in Beyoðlu and two in Eminonu. The registry kept by
the General Directorate of Foundations does not list any real estate
owned by the Heybeliada Greek Clerical School Foundation, the Buyukada
Surp Astvazazin Armenian Church Foundation or the Kadýkoy Surp Levon
Armenian Church Foundation.

While it is possible to find immovables owned by minority foundations
in any district of Ýstanbul, they are concentrated in Beyoðlu,
Þiþli, Eminonu, Eyup, Uskudar, and Beþiktaþ as well as the islands of
Buyukada, Heybeliada and Burgazada. Of 57 immovables owned by Bulgarian
foundation Ekzarhlýðý, 19 are located in Kýrklareli, 18 in Edirne and
the remainder in Fatih and Þiþli. Moreover, some foundations also own
immovables in Adapazarý, Bursa, Bayburt, Canakkale and a few other
Turkish cities.

Many of the immovables that belong to the minority foundations consist
of entire buildings. These immovables include places of worship,
schools, hospitals, marketplaces, waterside mansions, apartments,
detached residences, arable fields, gardens, cemeteries, shops
and plots of land; also, most of them are operated by the relevant
foundations whereas some of them are rented. Some of the immovables
that belong to minority foundations have had lawsuits filed against
them by the Treasury, the General Directorate of Foundations or
individuals. Some of these lawsuits are currently underway. In
particular, the Balýklý Greek Hospital Foundation is currently dealing
with several lawsuits launched in connection with its immovables.

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Some minority foundations and the number of immovables they own *
Balýklý Greek Hospital Foundation: 327

* Yedikule Surp Pýrgýc Armenian Church Foundation: 162

* Kurtuluþ Aya Dimitri Aya Tanaþ Aya Lefter Aya Kiryaki Church and
Primary School Foundation: 73

* Arnavutkoy Aya Stirati Taksi Arhi Greek Orthodox Church Foundation:
63

* Bulgar Ekzarhlýðý Orthodox Church Foundation: 57

* Uskudar Surp Garabet Church School and Cemetery Foundation: 47

* Taksim Elmadað Surp Agop Armenian Hospital Foundation: 44

* Kumkapý Meryemana Armenian Church and School Foundation: 42

* Balat Surp Hreþtegabet Armenian Church and School Foundation: 40

* Boyacýkoy Panayia Evengelistra Greek Orthodox Church Foundation: 39

* Kadýkoy Greek Orthodox Churches and Schools Foundation: 39

* Kocamustafapaþa Surp Kevork Armenian Church School and Cemetery
Foundation: 39

* Uskudar Surp Hac Armenian Church and School and Cemetery Foundation:
36

* Haskoy Aya Pareþkevi Greek Orthodox Church Foundation: 35

* Fener Men’s High School Foundation: 32

* Uskudar Profiti Ýlya Greek Orthodox Church and School Foundation: 32

* Beyoðlu Greek Orthodox Churches and Schools Foundation: 27

* Yenikoy Panayia Greek Orthodox Church Foundation: 26

* Cengelkoy Aya Yorgi Greek Orthodox Church Foundation: 25

* Buyukada Panayia Aya Dimitri Profiti Ýlya Greek Church and School
Foundation: 25

* Aya Yorgi Greek Orthodox Church in Fener Greek Patriarchate’s
Courtyard Foundation: 25

* Heybeliada Aya Nikola Greek Orthodox Foundation: 25

* Langa Aya Todori Greek Orthodox Church Foundation: 25

* Tarabya Aya Pareþkevi Greek Orthodox Church and School Foundation: 24

* Kuzguncuk Aya Pandelimon Greek Orthodox Church Foundation: 22

* Haskoy Maalem Jewish Synagogue Foundation: 21

* Kumkapý Greek Orthodox Aya Kiryaki, Panayia Elpida Churches
Foundation: 21

* Heybeliada Aya Dimitri Triade Foundation: 21

* Kuzguncuk Bet Yaakov Synagogue Foundation: 20

* Bakýrkoy Aya Yorgi Aya Analipsiz Greek Orthodox Churches and Schools
Foundation: 19

* Eyup Surp Astvazazin Armenian Church Arakelyan School and Cemetery
Foundation: 18

* Kýnalýada Surp Kirkor Lusavoric Armenian Church Foundation: 18

* Burgazada Aya Yorgi Karipi Greek Monastery Foundation: 17

* Kartal Surp Niþan Armenian Church Foundation: 16

* Yeþilkoy Aya Stefanos Church and Cemetery Foundation: 15

* Burguzada Aya Yani Greek Orthodox Church and School Foundation: 13

* Þiþli Georgian Catholic Church Foundation: 12

13.11.2007

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress