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Center for Armenian Remembrance
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Attorneys Vartkes Yeghiayan and Rita Mahdessian Honored in Greece

California Attorneys Vartkes Yeghiayan and Rita Mahdessian were recently
honored in Athens, Greece, for their efforts in repatriating the legal
rights of the Eastern Greeks.

In 2008, Attorney Yeghiayan facilitated the creation of a voluntary
settlement program with New York Life Insurance Company for heirs of Greeks
who had purchased life insurance policies in the Ottoman Empire prior to
1915. The total value of the voluntary program was $15 million.

In a magnificent setting at Dora Stratou Amphitheatre at the Acropolis, the
Federation of Refugee Associations of Greece, the Pan-Pontian Federation of
Greece, the Ecumenical Federation of Constantinopolitans and the
Pan-Hellenic Federation of Thracian Associations jointly honored the lawyers
with a rich cultural program including performances by nine Greek
traditional folkloric dance ensembles. The event, which took place on
September 14, 2009, was attended by some two thousand people, including
former Greek Prime Minister Yiannis Grivas, who presented the awards. Also
present were representatives from the Mayor’s office, the press and
political parties.

The ceremony was preceded by a one day International Conference on September
12, 2009, at the Auditorium of Athens Parnassos Literary Society, on the
occasion of the 54th Anniversary of Septemvriana (Istanbul prior to 1955 –
The Restitution of Minorities as a prerequisite for Respect of Human Rights
in Turkey.) The topics covered the Mechanisms of confiscation of properties
and persecution during the Second World War.

There were many distinguished speakers at the event, including Assistant
Professor Iakovos Aktsglov, Assistant Professor Ioannis Ktistaskis,
Representatives of Swedish and European Parliaments, four scholars from
Turkey including Dr. Ron Marguiles, Dr. Dilek Kurban, Dr. Dilek Guven, &
Sait Cetinoglu, and Attorney Vartkes Yeghiayan.