ISTANBUL (Marmara)–According to Turkish sources–the Turkish government will oppose any form of compensation rendered to Armenia’s who are descendants of life insurance owning victims of the genocide. Many wealthy Armenia’s of the Ottoman empire owned life insurance policies sold by American Insurance companies. Their claims were never put forth after the genocide until recently.
The Turkish government accuses Armenian Americans of secretly stirring up the issue of the Armenian genocide with the new Bush administration. The passage of a genocide resolution in the United States would help Armenian Americans receive money from the insurance companies. According to the same source–the compensation by insurance companies is indirectly a recognition of the genocide on the part of the US government. The hidden intentions of American Armenia’s was disclosed by Chairman Voural Genghis of the Atlanta Turkish-American Association. Upon hearing these plans–Genghis flew to Turkey and met with Premier Ecevit to discuss preventive steps. Ghenghis warned the premier of the possibility of American insurance companies forcing the Turkish government to cover compensation. Ecevit ordered the foreign affairs ministry to follow the issue closely and take action accordingly.