All the descendants of the Armenian Genocide victims residing in the United States may get compensations, the experts in Turkic studies Artak Shakaryan told a press conference. He pointed out that a claim was lodged against the Turkish Government, Central Bank of Turkey and Ziraat Bankasi, one of the oldest Turkish banks.

The descendants of the Armenian Genocide victims may win the claim provided that they manage to prove Turkey violated the Treaty of Lausanne. Articles 30, 31 and 32 of the treaty obliged Turkey to return the property to its subjects within two years and grant them citizenship, the expert said. Shakaryan stressed that this fact gave rise to speculations among Turkish lawyers, who claim the Turkish Government returned the property to returnees. As regards other, they violated the treaty themselves, so Turkey has nothing to compensate them.

“People could not return, as Turkey did not meet its commitments to ensure their security,” the expert said.

As to the prospects, Shakaryan forecasts the following outcomes:

It is actually an administrative claim. The U.S. judicial system is independent and is expected to defend U.S. citizens. Issues related to the Armenian Genocide can be considered by federal courts of California. “However, if the court returns a generally unfavorable verdict, we can face problems in future,” the expert said.

The descendants of the Genocide victims demand U.S. $170bn as compensation.

NEWS.am reminds readers that Garbis Davoyan of Glendale, Calif. and Hrayr Turabian of Queens, N.Y., demand compensation for the property and bank accounts lost in 1915-1916 as the Ottoman Government perpetrated the Armenian Genocide.