BEIRUT: The Armenian Catholicos of Cilicia, Aram I Keshishian, has urged Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to recognize the Armenian genocide of 1915 and “fully” return all properties seized from religious minorities since that time.

The Catholicosate of Cilicia released the letter Friday, which was issued after Ankara in August announced a new policy toward religious minorities in Turkey, which addressed property seized since 1936.

Addressing Erdogan, Aram I said that the recent decision by the Turkish government to return properties confiscated from religious minorities by the Turkish state was partial and does not to justice to their rights.

“The current decree of your government may comply with EU standards, but is not an act of justice,” said Aram I. “Mr. prime minister, selective acts of justice deny history and negate democratic values and principles.”