Wallenberg Foundation’s recognition
ROME – The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation has welcomed the decision of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to return to religious minorities hundreds of properties confiscated by the Turkish state since 1936.
The publication of the decree of restitution of property was announced by the Turkish prime minister on Sunday August 28.
The decree provides for the restitution of property to Greco-Orthodox, Armenian, Catholic and Jewish organizations.
On behalf of the International Raoul Wallenberg, Eduardo Eurnekian and Baruch Tenenbaum have saluted the measure in a letter sent to PM Erdogan.
The letter states that “We praise this initiave as a positive step that aims at creating a climate of reconciliation and, we hope, to put an end to decades of hostility and resentment.”
They also highlight a passage of Erdogan’s announcement where he stressed: “Times that a citizen of ours would be oppressed due to his religion, ethnic origin or different way of life are over.”
Along with the Wallenberg Foundation, founded by Tenenbaum, businessman Eduardo Eurnekian has decided to organize tributes to Armenian Holocaust Saviors and to others who have shown solidarity and civic courage helping discriminated and persecuted people of different nationalities during different historical periods.
The monument will be the first of its kind and will be located in different cities.
In 2010 Eduardo Eurnekian was distinguished as “Man of the Year” by the Armenian General Benevolent Union.
Translation: IRWF
