Keghart29 July 2023
Keghart.org interviews Jerusalem activist Hagop Djernazian, who along with Setrag Balian and 
several other concerned Jerusalemites, helped expose and publicize the illegal Goveroun Bardez (Cows’ Garden) contract secretly signed by Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, now defrocked Rev. Baret Yeretsian, and Archbishop Sevan Gharibian. The 98-year lease gave away twenty-five percent of the Armenian Quarter to Israeli interests. Djernazian comments on the findings of the lawyers who recently returned from a fact-finding mission.
KEGHART: How did the lawyers get a copy of the contract? From the Patriarchate or the municipality? If not from the Patriarchate, why not?
HD: The lawyers got a copy of the contract from a third party and not from the Patriarchate. As many of us know, the Patriarchate tried to hide the contract. Many Jerusalemite Armenians asked to see the contract, but the Patriarchate refused to show it to them. The Patriarchate didn’t give a copy of the contract to the lawyers either.
Some have asked that since the Patriarchate didn’t give the contract to the lawyers, how are we sure what was received from the third party is genuine? We know what we have is genuine because we were able to confirm it with the Patriarchate that it is a genuine copy. The Patriarchate has the contract with the missing fourth page.
The contract is absolutely scandalous and a disaster. According to the report prepared by the lawyers, Yeretsian’s role in the negotiations on behalf of the Patriarchate is corroborated as is Yeretsian’s working relationship with counsel for the Patriarchate (Joseph Avneeri) to whom the development contract awards significant fees to be paid by Xana Gardens Ltd.
It is important to mention also the role of Patriarch Manougian. According to the lawyers’ conclusion: “While Patriarch Manougian has denied any role in the negotiations of the development contract in response to the accusations levelled by Yeretsian, we have not been able to independently confirm the truth of the Patriarch’s denial. “
It is worth recalling that Yeretsian refused to meet the lawyers despite many attempts by the commission to interview him.
KEGHART: Now that lease details (minus p. 4 and the annexes) are known, the next concern is how to cancel/reverse the contract. What’s the advice of the lawyers? What are the steps necessary to cancel the deal?
HD: The community is working with the lawyers to find a way to reverse the deal. A glimpse of hope is that the deal violated the constitution of the Patriarchate and that there are manipulations in the deal. According to the report prepared by the lawyers, the manipulations are as follows:
1.The date on the contract appears to be altered from July 7 to July 8, 2021 to reflect the day that Xana Gardens Limited was registered in Israel.
The date appearing on all the pages have been typewritten as 7 July 2021 and then on the first and last page a handwriting changes the 7 to 8. Xana Gardens, as mentioned above, wasn’t registered as an Israeli company until July 8, 2021. The contract was signed on July 7, 2021. That is, Xana Gardens Ltd. didn’t exist yet as a registered company in Israel when it purportedly signed the contract.
2. Another point which can be considered manipulation is that nowhere in the contract does it specify the identity of the individual signing the contract on behalf of Xana Gardens Ltd. The certification part, which was supposed to be signed by Danny Rothman is not signed by him while the certification part for the Patriarchate is signed. The lessor is not only identified by label but by individual names and positions of the people signing on behalf of the Patriarchate. An attorney certification appears for the Patriarchate’s signatures.
KEGHART: What’s next as far as the community is concerned?
HD: The community is working in many different ways to reverse the deal and also to make the public aware of the scandal. In the upcoming weeks, the community will announce its steps and the way people can help us.
KEGHART: The Patriarch and Archbishop Gharibian have said they would reverse the deal. Are they working at it? If not, why not?
HD: From what I know and have heard from the Patriarchate clergy, those who hold high positions in the Patriarchate are working on canceling the deal. I don’t know how they are planning to do it. The Patriarch and those around him said at the outset that they needed two months to reverse the deal. But we are entering the end of the third month since the Patriarch said he would reverse the deal in two months.
KEGHART: How much would it cost the cancel the contract? Where will the money come from? What’s the community’s mood like?
HD: I don’t have a specific figure. None of us, including the lawyers, know the amount. If money is needed, I’m sure the Patriarchate, the community and the Armenian nation will work together to raise the required amount to pay the cancellation penalty. Our goal is to reverse the deal and return Goveroun Bardez to Armenians.
We, meaning the community, are full of hope that we will succeed in the struggle. The visit of the lawyers gave everyone a glimpse of hope. We should stay positive to reach our goal.
Regarding the above, I would like to make something very clear: there are many sensitive points in the struggle. We all should be very smart and think twice before we act. We are fighting against very powerful people. But we, as a community and a nation, are stronger than those who are trying to change the integrity of the Armenian Quarter. We will succeed if we stay united, act wisely, and believe in those who are working 24/7 to reverse this deal.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Keghart.org team for being at the forefront of reporting, since 2021, the Goveroun Bardez and other real estate scandals of the Armenian Patriarchate .
Note: Photos represent the developer’s plan for Goveroun Bardez. They were obtained from the municipality by the Armenian lawyers.
Related articles that have appeared in Keghart.org (chronologically sequenced since 31 August 2021)
Scandal at the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (Editorial)
The Risk of Leasing out Armenian patriarchate of Jerusalem Land
The Follies of Jerusalem’s Patriarch
Save the Lands
Patriarch Manougian Crucified by Own Words
Public Statement – Saints James Brotherhood
Palestinian Authority Demands Armenian Patriarch’s Reply
The Two-faced Patriarch
Toppling Criminal Nourhan, Restoring Armenian Lands
Hypocrisy Inc.
Patriarchate Pair Persists
Sts. James Patriarchate land lease
JERUSALEM BREAKING NEWS
Glimmer of Hope
The Winter of the Patriarch
Ingrate Vartabed Denies Patriarchate’s Debt to Nation
“After Me the Deluge”
The Architects of the Unfolding Tragedy of Armenian Jerusalem
It’s the 11th hour
Further Isolation for the Shameful Jerusalem Trio
Perpetuating the Armenian Presence in the holy land
Silencing US with Their Silence
Safeguarding Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter Against Judaization
Soft-ball Interview with Defrocked Priest
Keghart
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7 comments
This is useful information.
Thank you, Keghart and Mr. Djernazian.
I wonder if the Patriarch was put under pressure, especially — how shall I say this? — some sort of illegal and/or immoral personal coercive pressure, the nature of which one can only speculate about.
I would be sure that there are regional “agencies” that are experts at covertly gathering information about persons and/or institutions that can be used behind the scenes as very effective forms of coercion.
Otherwise, I can’t think of a good reason why a Patriarch would behave in a manner contrary to the interests of his constituents and why he would seek to keep the contract secret.
Finally, the amount to be paid by the Israeli interests in this case is absurdly low, utterly ridiculous, shameful, a pittance, and an obvious “ripoff.”
One should look a bit deeper into Israeli aims regarding the presence of Armenians in Jerusalem and into the personal backgrounds of the Patriarchate’s members and its financial state.
A foreign state that sends drones, other weapons, and personnel to kill Armenians is highly suspect.
Israel also will not acknowledge the Armenian genocide. That is hypocrisy rarely seen among so-called civilized countries.
Moreover, that particular state’s powerful lobby in the United States back Israel 100% and so is always fighting and defaming Armenians, Armenia, and Artsakh.
This may be one reason why the mainstream American media cares little about the Jerusalem issue.
Of course, America has become largely de-Christianized, and many of its Christians care more about Israel than about Christians.
Mr. Dwyer,
Thank you for your questions and speculation about what’s behind Patriarch Nourhan’s inexplicable behavior. Since the scandal became public, I have wondered about the mindless–if not treacherous–decisions of the Patriarch. I have concluded he has been blackmailed by certain parties who have access to the world’s best espionage technology, not to mention Armenians who have been forced to spy because of their vulnerable situation.
Without getting into the sordid details, I know Patriarch Nourhan can be blackmailed. When someone betrays his Church and nation after serving them for more than fifty years, one has to wonder about the reason for the 180-degree tilt in his behavior.
Since the scandal became public, Israeli authorities have remained suspiciously silent. Likewise the terrorist-settlers who have made no secret that they want no non-Jew in Jerusalem.
Thjs is a vague poorly prepared, slated report. What does it mean: “The 98-year lease gave away twenty-five percent of the Armenian Quarter to Israeli interests.”? There were Armenian and other developers that were turned down by the Patrirarch. Just because this one is Jewish, it does not mean the property would be ceded to Israeli interest.
What on earth are they saying here? “The contract is absolutely scandalous and a disaster. According to the report prepared by the lawyers, Yeretsian’s role in the negotiations on behalf of the Patriarchate is corroborated as is Yeretsian’s working relationship with counsel for the Patriarchate (Joseph Avneeri) to whom the development contract awards significant fees to be paid by Xana Gardens Ltd.”
Absolutely nothing! Yeretzian never denied having a role in the deal. Sure, he was the Director of Real Estate, but he was never the decesion maker!
Of course Yeretzian worked with Counsel. If he didn’t, he’d commit great folly. Accusing someone of doing the prudent thing I guess is the accepted norm in this post-modern chaotic world.
Marc,
Thank you for your comments. Clear and to the point.
Naively Armenians have always believed we had common history with the world jewelry when it came to persecutions. Wrong. Going back to the Genocide of the Armenians by turkey, to the cluster bombs and drones over Nagorno Gharapagh/Artsakh, to the Armenians in the Holy Land, to understate, Zionism has not favored the Armenian presence anywhere. In Historic Armenia, Artsakh, and since 1947 and the establishment of the state of Israel in the Holy Land. Even when Palestine was partitioned and East Jerusalem and the West Bank of Jordan were under the jurisdiction of the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan, the St James Patriarchate in East Jerusalem, was under pressure from the Israeli authorities in Jerusalem. The Jaffa monastery prime location as example and more.
However.
Knowing his own vulnerability, patriarch Nourhan could have defrocked and dislodged Yeretsian way back, and resigned his position. That would have been honorable thing to do. But he chose to hide the lease documents he signed illegally, and stay disgraced by the Armenian nation as a whole.
Responding to Arthur.
What you consider folly is if khachig yeretsian did not work with the church hired counsel. Correct. The folly. however, was that as patriarch, Nourhan assigned him as director of Armenian church/nation valuable properties. When because of Yeretsian’s lack of education in world affairs, he would have been no match to work with a savvy shrewd counsel. As the Armenian Church and nation have witnessed, khachig bloating with greed for power and riches, ended up working for the counsel, not the other way round.
Since being defrocked and thrown out of the community, he seems to be hiring pseudo journalists to speak/write for his innocence.
Certainly the patriarch is the main source of this illegal activity. Signing illegal documents for lease or sale of church properties not belonging to him. Khachig Yeretsian will never be innocent in the eyes of Armenians except for those who get paid to speak for his innocence.
What Patriarch nourhan and khachig have caused to happen, is having unbiased dedicated lawyers from abroad volunteer their time to investigate what has transpired. In a challenging, muddy situation they worked hard to bring as much clarity to the community and all Armenians as possible. Granted you may not be sufficiently familiar with the properties in question and the predicament. But please give credit to great lawyers volunteering their time and using correct terminology for common people to understand.
The patriarch, khachig, and sevan will be exonerated only when all three apologize to the nation and the patriarch rescind his signature from the illegal lease document.
Thanks for trying.
I’ll address Mr. Terzian’s first paragraph and hope others respond to the rest. Specifically, I will respond to his “Just because this one [Danny Rubinstein] is Jewish, it does not mean the property would be ceded to Israeli interests.” There is the whiff of anti-Semite accusations in that Terzian sentence. He is saying those who oppose the illegal contract do so because Rubinstein is Jewish. To be charitable to Terzian, I will say he has written that sentence because he is ignorant of the demographic picture in Jerusalem’s Old City and is unaware of the blatant Israeli/Jewish intention to drive out non-Jews from the Old City. Every day, non-Jews have to fight a new Israeli bureaucratic gimmick to make living in Jerusalem impossible for non-Jews while settler stormtroopers attack non-Jews, their businesses and clergy. Just today nuns were advised not to wear the crucifix so as to avoid settler attacks. Jerusalem has become a battleground for a war Israelis/Jews are waging against Christians and Muslims. The racism, in other words, oozes not from the Armenians or other non-Jewish communities but from the people who want to drive out non-Jews from the city. That being the case, it’s criminally inattentive to hand over 25 percent of the Armenian Quarter to Jewish/Israeli interests. The hotel that Rubinstein says he will build, will be a vast Jewish presence with a lot, if not, most of the guests Jewish tourists from overseas. It will be managed and staffed by Jews. Noisy weddings and parties will be held which would be audible to Armenians. It will create noisy traffic log jams around the Armenian Quarter and practically erase the Armenian character of the Armenian Quarter. And if Terzian believes the property would be returned to the Armenians after 98 years, he must also believe in Santa Claus.
Incidentally, I have been told by Jerusalemite Armenians that Rubinstein is free to change his mind and build a Jewish housing development rather than a hotel. That would be even a worse outcome for Armenians. The contract doesn’t say he is limited to building a hotel. He can also sublease it to settlers to build whatever they want.
Knowing that Israelis/Jews resent the presence of the tiny non-Jewish minority in the city, the illegal contract is an anti-Armenian political act. To say it was a purely business deal [Yeretsian’s words] is ignorant at best and criminal at worst.
Dear all,
This land belongs to the Armenians. It should be developed by Armenians, stay in Armenian hands for the coming generations and live In Jerusalem .