Selimiye Imperial Barracks by Architect Krikor Balian

[1.5 million]

unfortunatly "restoring" something in Turkey is most often not what it seems and they way it is done there leaves little chance that in fact the structure will be improved - very likely quite the opposite. Ani for instance - well at least part of the walls - that have supposedly been restored...well much of what was left standing and was in good shape - was torn down and replaced by new construction that does not at all match the original - and where there was no need to tear up the original - and this is typical as "restorers" aparently get paid by the pound - essentially - and often they have no training or knowledge but are essentially just a group of uneducated bricklayers or such - its very sad and leaves the fate of the Church on Aktamar - a most impressive structure - that seemed to me to be in pretty good shape as is - quite in doubt. Aktamar Island is a very visited spot - with boats running hourly from like 8am to 5pm and many Turkish families picnic and swim and spend the day there. It is a gorgeous location and it is no wonder that it is popular...and it is a bit too visible to just dismantle and destroy - unlike a great many other Armenian churches, villages and structures etc

[ScythianVizier]

unfortunatly "restoring" something in Turkey is most often not what it seems and they way it is done there leaves little chance that in fact the structure will be improved - very likely quite the opposite. Ani for instance - well at least part of the walls - that have supposedly been restored...well much of what was left standing and was in good shape - was torn down and replaced by new construction that does not at all match the original - and where there was no need to tear up the original - and this is typical as "restorers" aparently get paid by the pound - essentially - and often they have no training or knowledge but are essentially just a group of uneducated bricklayers or such - its very sad and leaves the fate of the Church on Aktamar - a most impressive structure - that seemed to me to be in pretty good shape as is - quite in doubt. Aktamar Island is a very visited spot - with boats running hourly from like 8am to 5pm and many Turkish families picnic and swim and spend the day there. It is a gorgeous location and it is no wonder that it is popular...and it is a bit too visible to just dismantle and destroy - unlike a great many other Armenian churches, villages and structures etc

In Turkey, historical elements of the cultures that existed throughout Anatolian history was not respected sufficiently. This even applies to the Ottoman and Seljuk monuments scattered throughout Anatolia.

In selected areas, there are places at where historical monuments of various cultures are well preserved, and some areas at where much of the historical elements were destroyed or severely damaged. Conversely, it is an identical story in the case of Armenians as some of Armenian monuments are really in good conditions whilst some of them do not even exist anymore.

I regret that Turkey hasnt done her homework even though I believe that gradual restoration of historical elements would be an important subject for debate, and public interest in the future.

As you might know, the Church of Aktamar Island is being restored at present, and the project is still critized eventhough the work is done with the help of Armenian Architects who were advised by the Armenian patriarch.

I read recently that there is another project related to the city of Ani, but probably, it would wait for a while until Turkey and Armenia establish some friendly relationship that could enable them to restore the city of Ani together.

[1.5 million]

There is certainly an issue of general Turkish neglect of many archelogical sites and other heritage (for instance bueatiful Anatolian wooden homes etc) that require some respect and preventative measures from deterioration that is not occuring. This is most sad. However there are admittedly quite a lot of these places in Anatolia so it would be difficult for anyone - however much more needs to be done and the mentality of Turks and Turkey needs to change to create an environment to better appreciate this heitage and protect it.

Then there is the case of deliberate destruction and deliberate neglect and this has also been occuring in regards to a great number of Armenian sites - and this is most shameful. Obviously Acktamar island is a very well known, visible and visited landmark and it and places like it - Ani for instance - cannot just be buldozed out of hand (however in some cases the connection with Armenians can be and is obscured). Another thing however that is shameful is that Turkey is prventing many of these sites from being designated as special heritage sites by UNESCO when they clearly qualify. The negative political motivation of these positions is most sad and shameful. You Turks need to petition your government to have greater sensitivity to these issues and not to use them for political purposes or impose political barriers - it is all of our heritage and get over it already - to deliberatly attempt to erase memory of Armenians on these lands is to perpetuate and continue the acts of Genocide.