Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party returns the one-time Armenian buildings to their original owners with one hand 
while trying to seize it with another, reports the Istanbul-based bilingual weekly Agos.
The publication says that the earlier decision to return the community’s property symbolized a kind of new approach to the historical injustice, which could not be ignored despite the remarkable differences between the buildings’ original appearance and current look.
“In the run-up to 2015, the ‘just memory’ of the Armenian Genocide is turning into state policies, so the property return may have a certain value in terms of reinstating that justice.
“But to heal and repair the injustice of the past it is necessary to find permanent rather than transient solutions,” reads the article.
It says further that the local authorities in Istanbul’s Zeitinburnu neighborhood have filed a lawsuit to reinstate the ownership right to the land lot returned to the Armenian church of Sourb Prkich (Holy Savior).
A namesake hospital is said to be the building’s owner, but the city authorities reportedly appeal against the decision to return it to the Armenian community.
The property is thought to be of vital importance for the hospital which offers aid to not only Armenians but also any individual regardless of religion or ethnic identity.
“That move by the Zeitinburnu mayor’s office will hopefully be remembered as an unpleasant step tomorrow. To avoid such problems it is necessary to return the entire property without preconditions and take steps towards reparation,” says the publication.