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Akhtamar- Church of the Holy Cross (Soorp Khach)

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  • Akhtamar- Church of the Holy Cross (Soorp Khach)




    Dhaka Archbishop Bejoy N. D'Cruze leads delegation. Under current rules, Catholic priests and nuns must provide personal bank details, but, unlike Protestant clergy, they often do not have them. Home Affairs and Religious Affairs ministers pledged full cooperation to solve the matter.

    by Mavi Zambak
    Built in the X century it lies in one of the country’s most beautiful areas, the very site of the Armenian genocide occurred. The journalist Hrant Dink, killed a months ago, had asked for the churches restoration and reopening. For years the ancient frescos had been used for target practice; the sacred building blackened by barbecue smoke for picnics. Armenian religious authorities protest. Patriarch Mesrob II refuses to participate in the ceremony.

    Ankara (AsiaNews) – Tomorrow March 29 the Turkish government will reopen – as a museum – the ancient Armenian Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar island in the middle of lake Van, on eastern Turkey’s border with Armenia. The date had been moved over 4 times. Tomorrow Turkish authorities will be present at the ceremony, including prime minister Erdogan, but the Armenian spiritual authorities will not be present. In fact the Ankara authorities have denied the use of the building as a Church and has also refused to place a cross at the summit of the dome, as the original Church once had.

    Frescos destroyed and blackened

    Lying in a splendid salt water volcanic lake, this suggestive church is reached by a short 15 minute baost trip. It is one of the most precious examples of Armenian tenth century art in existence, an architectural creation of rare beauty (view the photo album at following address: http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/akdamar ).

    In the past the Turkish journal Milliyet, had denounced the alarming story that the bas relief which decorate the facade of the Holy Cross and depict scenes from the New and Old testament, were being used as target practice. In order to prove the damage caused they published photos illustrating the extent of the bullets destruction. Moreover, on hearing of a hidden treasure present on the island, local residents became "hunters" in search of the presumed riches, committing untold acts of vandalism in the process.

    As if that was not enough, the island, a popular destination for holiday picnic makers, was literally invaded by barbeques some even installed within the church itself, with the tragic consequence that the frescos on the church interior were blackened beyond recognition.

    In 2004 the newspaper Zaman also raised the alarm about the degraded state of Holy Cross Church, despite the fact that it is a tourist location of renowned popularity among visitors from all over the world, above all the Armenian Diaspora. In fact it is widely known that this area – among the most beautiful landscapes in Turkey – is sadly infamous for having been one of the sites of the Armenian genocide of 1915. Today for many Armenians, wherever they may be, Akdamar remains a place dear to their hearts, so much so that many try to visit it before they die. The sight of elderly Armenians falling to their knees in prayer as they set foot on the sacred island is not a rare one.

    A year and a half ago, the Turkish authorities decided to restore this artistic patrimony, a plan to preserve the historic identity of the church was laid out and after 15 months of intense work the restoration– which cost over 2 million euros and was carried out by the Turkish architect of note Zakerya Mildanoglu –has finished.

    But not without controversy.

    Il restauro e il genocidio armeno

    Armenian Turkish journalist Hrant Dink – killed in Istanbul on January 19th – wrote an article for the Turkish paper Birgun which was republished by Milliyet the very day of his assassination: “Ten years ago I first appealed to the Van authorities. “Instead of inventing a monster in the lake to attract tourists why don’t you take care of the work of art which lies right under your nose. What need is there to waste your time on stupidities? Van is a veritable treasure from an Artistic point of view. Why do you not act seriously and sit down to ask yourselves: What if we restore the region? – And even if then Armenians did arrive, let them come to visit the birth place of their forefathers, what harm could they possibly do? “ And I even added: “If you need help we are ready. Turkey’s Armenians and those of the Diaspora are ready to volunteer their services, we are at your orders, let this be known! Come let us restore not only the Church but also our disenchanted souls”. Finally after a long wait restoration on Akdamar are completed (…) we are deeply indebted to Cahit Zeydanli for his meticulous work, he consulted experts from Armenia and also with architect Zakarya Mildanoglu, and Armenian from Turkey. They did their best and they have created something splendid. The did great things, but alas then politicians and bureaucrats became involved and the inauguration could not take place. Once the opening was put of from November 4th 2006 for reasons of inclement weather to April the 24th, as explained by Culture Minister Atilla Koc. Reactions were not short in coming. The Armenian Patriarch Mutafyan made known that in the case the inauguration actually happened on April 24th no Armenian should attend. Last week the question even arose in Parliament. CHP (Peoples Republican Party) deputy Erdal Karademir asked if the date of April 24th, the anniversary of the Armenian genocide, was a reflection of the politics of AKP (Justice and Development Party). For its’ part the nationalist press presented the event as “the inauguration of the Van vendetta”. They succeeded in transforming something positive into an error, a farce, a disaster. The government still has not taken up a clear position regarding the Armenian question. It is not concerned with resolving the issue, but in scoring points in a political battle, in basis of their opponents moves. They lack all credibility. The invite Armenian historians to the discussion table but then show no scruples in putting people on trial who have a different view point to the official line on the question. The restore the Armenian Church to attract tourists to the western Anatolia region, at the same time showing no sahme in scoring political points from it”.

    After hypothesising over April 11th, now it has been decioded: tomorrow there will be the opening ceremony with the presence of prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Minister for Culture and Tourism Attila Koc, the Minister for Armenian Culture Hasmik Poghosyan has also been invited. But the problems persist.

    It is well known that the Border between Turkey and Armenia is closed, thus after various attempts to have a conduit opened, or a special airfield made available for the special occasion, so the Armenian authorities could make their way to Van directly from the Armenian capital, following Turkey’s repeated no, the group of Architects, historians and journalists today set out on an arduous 15 hour journey overland through Georgia, when Van lies a few hundred miles from Erivan.

    A museum without a cross or religious ceremonies

    The Armenian Patriarch Karekin Katolikos II has joined Turkish Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II in refusing to attend. Why? This historic Church has been transformed into a museum, a request for a cross to be put in place at the summit of the dome has been refused, there will be no bells and the opening ceremony will be equal to that of any secular museum.

    “Seeing as it is not considered a Church, seeing as no religious celebration will mark this reopening, my presence there is really insignificant”, affirmed Patriarch Mesrob II, adding: “I pleaded with the President and Prime Minister to see that a cross be placed on the dome, I invited them to establish an annual Armenian festival in the area, but I have yet to receive an answer. Therefore my presence there on March 29th really has little sense”.

    And the delicate relationship between the Patriarch and the Turkish authorities do not end here.

    Days ago Mesrob II travelled under heavy police escort following death threats to Iskenderun, in ancient Alessandretta, a maritime city on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, to celebrate the 225 anniversary of the local Armenian Church. Well, there in that very city which is also home to the Catholic Vicariate to Anatolia, the mayor decided to erect a monument to the Turks killed by French and Armenians during the French occupation of 1918-38.

    The Patriarch, could only comment on this gesture as a further provocation by nationalists to divide the population : “Instead of building a bridge of dialogue between peoples, in this way they heighten tensions, this can only be the work of nationalists”, he sadly commented to journalists.

    Even regarding Hrant Dink’s assassination, nothing clear has so far emerged: “If we still cannot find the true perpetrators of this crime, it means that they are well protected and from on high”, is the Patriarchs embittered response.
    "All truth passes through three stages:
    First, it is ridiculed;
    Second, it is violently opposed; and
    Third, it is accepted as self-evident."

    Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)

  • #2
    Akhtamar Church Inauguration

    Լրահոս edit post Եղիշե Կիրակոսյանը կմասնակցի Հաագայի դատարանի հայցապահանջների ընդունելիության առնչությամբ ներկայացված առարկությունների նիստերին 04/11/2024 edit post Ն.Ս.Օ.Տ.Տ. Գարեգին Երկրորդ Ծայրագույն Պատրիարք և Ամենայն Հայոց Կաթողիկոսի օծման և գահակալության 25-րդ տարեդարձն է 04/11/2024 edit post Մայա Սանդուն՝ Մոլդովայի նախագահ 04/11/2024 edit post Մենք պետք է աշխարհին ցույց տանք ճշմարտությունը. «Թաթոյան» հիմնադրամ 04/11/2024 edit post Եթե […]

    CO-ORDINATION CO NCIL OF ARMENIAN ORGANISATIONS OF FRANCE (CCAF) REFUSES TO TAKE PART IN INAUGURATION OF AGHTAMAR CHURCH

    In a letter addressed on March 26, 2007 to the governor of Van, chairman of the CCAF, Alexis Govciyan declined the invitation to go to Van for inauguration of Sourp Khatch. He justifies his refusal "after an attentive examination" by the fact that Church Holy Aghtamar Cross "belongs to the Armenian heritage and consequently, is and must remain property of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey which notably must be able there to celebrate masses".

    Also, Alexis Govciyan points out in his letter, the change of the name of Aghtamar Church by Aktamar, its transformation into a museum without any reference of his belonging to the cultural Armenian heritage, brought CCAF to decline Van's governor invitation.

    Nota: chairman of CCAF had gone to Istanbul to the Hrant Dink's funerals, editor of turkish-armenian weekly magazine Agos, assassinated on January 19, 2007.

    Jean Eckian, Independent correspondent
    "All truth passes through three stages:
    First, it is ridiculed;
    Second, it is violently opposed; and
    Third, it is accepted as self-evident."

    Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)

    Comment


    • #3
      Gavur, if it's ok with you, I'd like to merge your Akhtamar thread with mine.
      General Antranik (1865-1927): “I am not a nationalist. I recognize only one nation, the nation of the oppressed.”

      Comment


      • #4
        No Self-Respecting Armenian Should
        Accept Turkey's Invitation to Akhtamar
        By Harut Sassounian
        Publisher, The California Courier

        The Turkish government has launched a worldwide campaign to exploit, forpropaganda purposes, the renovation of the 10th century Holy Cross Church onAkhtamar Island, in Turkish-occupied Western Armenia. Ankara has sent outinvitations for "the inaugural" ceremonies to more than 3,000 guests from around theworld, including officials from Armenia and Armenians from the Diaspora.

        According to the Turkish Zaman newspaper, the Turkish government's intent is to use the restoration of the church on March 29 as part of its accelerated efforts to counter the adoption of the Armenian Genocide resolution by theU.S. Congress.
        Last week, when a Turkish delegation came to Washington to lobby againstthat resolution, Mehmet Dulger, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commissionof the Turkish Parliament, announced that he had brought with him photos of the renovated Akhtamar Church. Dulger said he would show the photo album published by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to U.S. Congressmen and tell them: "See, the Turks, whom you accuse of genocide, have renovated an Armenian Church with taxes collected from Turks. And these photos are the evidence." The Turkish government reportedly spent more than $1.5 million for the restoration.

        Zaman reported that the album would be distributed worldwide to all
        organizations advocating "Armenian genocide claims." Furthermore, "the culture ministers of all countries that have adopted or will adopt Armenian genocide bills=80¦are invited to the opening," Zaman wrote.

        To make maximum propaganda use of this opportunity, an official from the Turkish Ministry of Culture even suggested that the long-blockaded
        Armenian-Turkish border be temporarily opened for guests from Armenia wishing to cross into Turkey. He also spoke about the possibility of a special direct flight from Yerevan to Van on that occasion. However, the Turkish military vetoed both suggestions.
        Turkish officials came up with ridiculous explanations when asked why the
        renovated Holy Cross Church did not have a cross on its dome. Reporters were told that the cross could be the cause of a lightning strike that would burn down the church! Another official ridiculously claimed that he could not find any old photos of the church with a cross on its dome.
        Even the date of the planned ceremonies has been subject to much political speculation and a comedy of errors. The Turkish government originally set the date for April 24. But after complaints from the Armenian Patriarch, the date was changed to April 11. When Turkish officials learned that April 11 was in fact the same date as April 24 in the old calendar, they changed it yet again to March 29, hoping that they would thus be able to pre-empt the negative impact on Turkey of the worldwide commemorations of the Armenian Genocide held in April of each year.
        Once the final date was set, the Turkish Foreign Ministry immediately
        instructed its ambassadors and consul generals around the world to extend
        invitations to Armenians and non-Armenians alike to attend the ceremonies on March 29. Invitations were received by scores of Armenians whose addresses had been provided to local Turkish consulates by a couple of Armenian individuals who do the Turkish government's bidding apparently for personal gain.
        The invitations offend the invitees by describing the Holy Cross Church as
        the "the Monumental Museum of Akdamar [sic] Church." Even more offensive is the two-page enclosure which states that the carvings of the church walls "show an influence of 9th and 10th century Abbasi art, which was itself influenced by Central Asian Turkish Art."

        The invitation indicates that the guests are expected to arrive in Ankara
        on March 28 and leave for Akhtamar in the early morning of March 29, flying from Ankara to Van by private plane. After the conclusion of the opening ceremony
        -- which may be attended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan or Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul -- the invitees will be given lunch, taken on a tour of the city of Van, including the historic castle and then depart to Ankara later that afternoon. After asking them to fly to Turkey, in some cases from halfway around the world, the guests are expected to be on Akhtamar Island not more than an hour and a half which would include the opening ceremony and a recital by a Turkish pianist.
        While it is obvious that the Turkish government is only interested in the
        propaganda value of this ancient Armenian Church, it is much less clear why any Armenian would want to be a part of its unholy ploy. Why would any self-respecting Armenian, whether from Armenia or the Diaspora, allow himself or herself to be used by Turkish authorities for anti-Armenian purposes, specifically in Turkey's efforts to counter the recognition of the Armenian Genocide?

        Armenians should boycott and denounce this cynical Turkish ploy. If Turkish officials are truly interested in restoring the Holy Cross Church, here are the steps they must take:
        1) Designate it as a church, not museum, and open it for Christian
        worship.
        2) Place it under the jurisdiction of the Armenian Patriarchate of
        Constantinople, not the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
        3) Place a cross on its dome.
        4) Remove all false references to a non-existent Turkish influence on
        the architecture of the Holy Cross Church.

        World public opinion should be told that Turkey deserves very little credit
        for renovating this Armenian church. There were thousands of Armenian
        churches and monuments before the genocide of 1915 throughout today's Turkey. Most of
        them were confiscated and converted to non-religious use, abandoned to the ravages of time or outright demolished by Turkish officials. To deserve and credit, Turkey should restore these churches and monuments and return them to the Armenian Patriarchate.
        Until the Turkish authorities implement the above four stops, no
        self-respecting Armenian should in any way assist or support Ankara's use of the renovation of an Armenian church for Turkish propaganda purposes.
        General Antranik (1865-1927): “I am not a nationalist. I recognize only one nation, the nation of the oppressed.”

        Comment


        • #5
          Thursday 29, March 2007



          Yerevan Downplays Armenian Church Renovation By Turks


          By Emil Danielyan

          Armenia on Thursday welcomed the inauguration of a newly renovated ancient Armenian church in eastern Turkey, but said that alone will not help to improve Turkish-Armenian relations.

          The Foreign Ministry in Yerevan pointed to the Turkish authorities’ apparent refusal to reinstate the 10th century Church of the Saint Cross as a place of worship and accused them of using the high-profile event to prevent U.S. recognition of the Armenian genocide.

          The ceremony marking the $1.5 million restoration of the church, located on the island of Akhtamar on the vast Lake Van, took place earlier in the day in the presence of senior Turkish officials, leaders of Turkey’s Armenian community and a government delegation from Armenia. The delegation led by Deputy Culture Minister Gagik Gyurjian attended it at the invitation of Turkish Culture Minister Atilla Koc.

          Speaking at the ceremony broadcast live by Turkish television, Koc portrayed the restoration as a gesture of goodwill towards the Armenians and proof of his government’s commitment to protecting the cultural heritage of Turkey’s ethnic minorities.

          “This is a positive move and holds the potential of a reversal of the policy of negligence and destruction,” Vladimir Karapetian, the Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman, said in a statement. He urged Ankara to take the “same kind approach” to dozens of other medieval churches that have fallen into disrepair or been vandalized since the 1915 mass killings and deportations of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey.

          “Unfortunately, this opening was not transformed to a new opportunity in Armenia-Turkish relations, because the Turkish government has not found it expedient to do so,” the statement said.

          “Turkey’s announcements about the opening of this renovated church do not include the word ‘Armenian’ anywhere,” it added. “Names of kings and regions from medieval times are evoked, but no mention is made of its Armenian and Apostolic belonging. This is an evasion of the Turkish government’s responsibility not only to history and memory, but to its own Armenian minority.”

          Also causing controversy in Armenia was the sight of a huge Turkish flag and a picture of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic, hanging at the entrance to the Akhtamar church. Yerkir-Media, an Armenian television station that retransmitted the ceremony, aired a live phone-in program afterwards. It featured phone calls by angry viewers that condemned the display of Turkish state symbols on an Armenian religious shrine as blasphemous.

          Earlier this week, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Garegin II, rejected an official invitation to attend the event because the Turkish government has converted the restored church into a museum and ignored calls by the Turkish-Armenian community to place a cross on the church's dome.

          In a speech before about 350 people attending the ceremony, the community’s spiritual leader, Patriarch Mesrop II, urged the government in Ankara to open up the church for worship at least once a year. "If our government approves [the request,] it will contribute to peace between two communities who have not been able to come together for years," Mesrop said.

          Koc promised to consider the request. Reuters news agency reported that Turkish officials removed some of the candles placed inside the church by Armenians that arrived on the remote island for the occasion. It said some of them whispered prayers and wept with emotion.

          Turkish officials have made no secret of their intention to use the event for countering the decades-long Armenian campaign for international recognition of the 1915-1918 massacres as genocide. The U.S. Congress is to debate a relevant resolution co-sponsored by over a hundred lawmakers soon.

          “It is no coincidence that this opening is being held just as the U.S. Congress is considering a resolution on affirming the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide,” said Karapetian.

          Karapetian also criticized Ankara for failing to reopen the Turkish-Armenian for the Armenian officials heading to Akhtamar. The Armenian delegation took 16 hours to reach the site, less than 400 kilometers from Yerevan, via Georgia.

          In a related development, the Turkish police detained on Thursday five trade-union representatives who staged a demonstration on a jetty on Lake Van to protest the church's restoration. According to an Associated Press report citing the government-run Anatolia news agency, the protesters carried Turkish flags, pictures of Ataturk, and a banner that read: “The Turkish people are noble. They would never commit genocide.”

          (Photolur photo)
          General Antranik (1865-1927): “I am not a nationalist. I recognize only one nation, the nation of the oppressed.”

          Comment


          • #6
            EURASIA INSIGHT
            TURKEY OPENS RESTORED ARMENIAN CHURCH
            Nicholas Birch 3/29/07

            Print this article Email this article

            Abandoned since the slaughter of Anatolia’s Armenians more than 90 years ago, Turkey’s best-known Armenian Church was reopened March 29 after undergoing a high-profile restoration. Ankara hopes the highly publicized gesture will improve tense relations with Europe, the United States and neighboring Armenia.

            The restored church reopened as a museum. The midday ceremony on Akdamar, a craggy island on eastern Anatolia’s vast Lake Van, came two months after Turkey’s most outspoken Armenian, journalist Hrant Dink, was shot dead in Istanbul. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. http://www.eurasianet.org/department...av020107.shtml The event also occurred amid continuing European Union pressure on Turkey to improve its civil rights climate, [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive] and as the US Congress prepares to consider a resolution to recognize the mass killings of Armenians in 1915 as genocide. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

            Heading a 20-strong delegation that arrived in Turkey via Georgia due to the closure of the Turkish-Armenian border, Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Culture Gagik Gyurjyan sounded a conciliatory note. "This is an important step for our two countries", he told reporters on the island.

            Patriarch Mesrob II, the spiritual head of Turkey’s dwindling Armenian community, was the guest of honor at the high-security event, which included a concert and a brief fireworks display. "It is a joy to see the church restored to its original grandeur", he told approximately 200 dignitaries seated in front of the 1,100-year old, octagonal structure. At a time of high tension in Turkey, he congratulated the government for "courageously completing the project." The restoration cost Turkey $1.9 million. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].


            Despite the positive words, controversy seemed to hover over the restoration/reopening event. It showed itself indirectly in the ceremony’s patriotic undercurrent: speeches, for example, were preceded by a rendering of the Turkish national anthem. And as they approached Akdamar Island on boats, visitors - many of whom were foreign journalists invited by the Turkish government - saw a huge Turkish flag draped along one of the island spurs long before the church silhouette came into view.

            Speaking against a backdrop of flags and a portrait of the founder of the modern Turkish state, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turkey’s Culture Minister Atilla Koc called for the protection of "the cultural diversity and assets of the different cultures and civilizations in our lands" without mentioning Armenia or Armenians by name.

            Patriarch Mesrob was more outspoken, chiding Turkey for turning Akdamar into a museum. "We all know Aghtamar is a church", he said, using the Armenian pronunciation of the island. "An annual Divine Liturgy that could be celebrated in this church... would gather believers from the four corners of the world."

            The secular nature of today’s ceremony prompted Catholicos Karekin II, the Yerevan-based Armenian supreme patriarch, to reject a Turkish invitation to attend the ceremony. For several weeks prior to the opening, Turks had been debating the lack of cross on the apex of the church’s octagonal dome. "There’s no need for a cross on a museum," today’s Turkish newspapers quoted Koc as saying. Critics, meanwhile, pointed to the church’s original name - the Holy Cross.

            There are indications that the Turkish government has not made a final decision on whether to permit the installation of a cross atop the church. Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has sought input from the Foreign Ministry on the cross issue, Today’s Zaman, a Turkish news website, reported March 29.

            Religious leaders invited to the ceremony seemed inclined to let the omission go. "Buildings are built stone by stone, and friendships too" said George Marovitch, Papal Nuncio to Turkey. "But you cannot love what you do not know, and Akdamar is an important start."

            With the investigations into the Dink murder still continuing, it is far less clear how the church’s restoration will influence opinion among Turkey’s 60,000 Armenians. "Only two things are keeping the Armenian community going -- this newspaper, and the hope that Hrant’s killers will be brought to justice," said Etyen Mahcupyan, who took over as editor of the weekly Agos after Dink’s death, said in a recent interview.

            Sitting around a table in the Istanbul suburb of Yesilkoy a few days before the Akdamar ceremony, a group of a dozen Armenian Turks of all ages largely concurred. When they heard Dink had been murdered, they said, they feared it might be the start of a pogrom like the one in 1955 that ended Greek presence in Istanbul. "All the teachers at my school dropped what they were doing and ran home", said one young woman who - like everybody else - spoke on condition of anonymity. A middle-aged woman nodded in agreement - "I rang my kids and told them to get off the street," she said.

            Always close followers of the Turkish media, Armenians everywhere watched with dismay the nationalist reaction to the huge crowd that turned out for Dink’s funeral. "Am I living in the same country that I was born in", Patriarch Mesrob II said in one of two uncharacteristically outspoken interviews with Agos recently.

            Following the arrest of two young men who fired shots into the air as mourners congregated in a church to mark the 40th day of Dink’s death, Armenians have been upping security around their community buildings. For the Yesilkoy Armenians, Dink’s death and what followed signaled the end of "the illusion" that outside pressure was transforming Turkey for the better.

            "We have two choices," said one 52-year old woman; "Keep our heads down and our mouths shut, or leave. I would leave tomorrow, but like everybody here I have relatives who left Turkey, and none of them are happy."

            "The first generation in exile is a lost generation."

            In Yerevan, the Armenian Foreign Ministry applauded the Church restoration, but indicated that the lack of a cross atop it diluted the impact of Turkey’s goodwill gesture.


            Editor's Note: Nicolas Birch specializes in Turkey, Iran and the Middle East.

            Posted March 29, 2007 © Eurasianet
            General Antranik (1865-1927): “I am not a nationalist. I recognize only one nation, the nation of the oppressed.”

            Comment


            • #7
              Looks like most Armenians are seeing right through the propagandist intentions by the Turks. We will not be a party to it.



              The second chance for rapprochement with Armenians misses

              Wednesday, March 21, 2007


              Turkish government decided to keep the inauguration of Akdamar Church low profile since the Armenian diaspora is not eager to participate.

              DUYGU GÜVENÇ
              ANKARA - Turkish Daily News

              The inauguration of Akdamar Church on March 29 will not be an opportunity for the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia and Turkey will miss the second chance for rapprochement after the assassination of Hrant Dink, said sources familiar with the issue talking to the Turkish Daily News yesterday.

              In the eve of a resolution proposed to the U.S. House of Representatives for acceptance of genocide claims, Ankara was ambitious for the opening ceremony of Akdamar Armenian Church. Turkey aimed to prevent the acceptance of Armenian claims for evaluating the 1915-1919 events as genocide by the United States with the resolution proposed to the House of Representatives and planned to show the respect of Turkish society to different cultures and religions by opening Akdamar Church.

              More than 200 Armenians from New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Ottawa and Paris were invited in addition to the Armenians from Yerevan including the clergymen and representatives of nongovernmental organizations who attended Dink's funeral. The invitations were prepared in coordination with the Turkish-Armenian's Patriarch, Mesrob Mutafyan, said the Turkish sources. In the invitations sent by the Van governor, Turkey excluded the extremist Tashnaks and preferred to invite moderate Armenians. Just a week before the ceremony, Turkey is now suspicious about the attendance of Armenians.

              Despite the invitation it is still unclear whether Armenian Culture Minister Hasmik Poghosian will attend the inauguration of the newly renovated 10th century Akdamar Church and Yerevan did not give an answer to the invitation conveyed by the Turkish Embassy to Tibilisi. In response, Ankara adopted a low profile policy on Akdamar, saying, ?There is no need to exaggerate, we are opening historical places every year.?

              Akdamar Church or the Church of the Holy Cross is a ruined Armenian Church in Van of Eastern Anatolia.

              The expectations of Armenians were not realized said Kaan Soyak, the co-chairman of the Turkish-Armenian Business Council, talking to TDN. Soyak criticized Turkish foreign policy for being addicted to Azerbaijan and expressed the disappointment of Armenians for not opening the Turkish-Armenian border for inauguration day. He claimed that most of the moderate Armenians who wish to come would prefer to protest in response to Ankara's policies.

              Turkish sources on the other hand argued a direct flight between Yerevan and Van airport is impossible saying, ?It is not possible to sustain security measures in Van because of technical reasons.?

              Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic relations, and the border between the two countries has been closed since 1993. Hopes have risen for normalization of Turkish-Armenian ties when the Turkish government invited Armenian officials and representatives of the diaspora to participate in Dink's funeral ceremony. He was shot to death in Istanbul in January. But no visible development in the name of reconciliation between the two countries has been observed since then.



              Karakin II did not receive the invitation:

              Ankara invited the Patriks and Metropolits of Damascus, Aleppo, Moscow, Bukresh, Beirut as well as the five Orthodox representatives from Yerevan. In that context, head of the Armenian Orthodox Church Karekin II was invited by the governor of Van, Niyazi Tan?l?r. ?Karekin II will not attend because he only got a note for the invitation, the invitation was not sent,? said the sources who are in contact with Yerevan. Turkish sources on the other hand asserted that it is not intentional and it is false.
              General Antranik (1865-1927): “I am not a nationalist. I recognize only one nation, the nation of the oppressed.”

              Comment


              • #8
                Turkey doesn't wish normalization of relations with Armenia

                21.03.2007 18:01

                “The reconstruction of the Church on Akhtamar is an extra proof that Armenians were natives there,” Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian told a news conference today, PanARMENIAN.Net reported. Turkey represents its move as a gesture of good will for normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations, he said.

                “As a matter of fact, it’s not so. Turkey meant to impress the international community. If Turkey wished to normalize relations it would open borders. Just imagine, in order to attend the inauguration of the St. Cross Church the Armenian delegation will have to fly to Istanbul or Tbilisi and then head for Van.

                It will take 16 hours while a trip from Yerevan to Van would take 4 hours only. Things are not clear with the Yerevan-Van-Yerevan charter flight yet,” he said adding that the Armenian delegation will be led by Gagik Gyurjian, the Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs.
                General Antranik (1865-1927): “I am not a nationalist. I recognize only one nation, the nation of the oppressed.”

                Comment


                • #9
                  MORE THAN 20 PROFANED MONUMENTS IN THE BASIN OF LAKE VAN

                  ArmRadio.am
                  21.03.2007 12:40

                  The reconstruction of the Church of the Holy Cross on Akhtamar Island
                  is the simple political calculation of the Turkish side, a PR action
                  to counter the process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
                  Director of the Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan told Armenpress.

                  He noted that the results of the study carried out by the London based
                  " Komitas" Institute reveal that there are more than 20 demolished
                  and profaned monuments in the basin of Lake Van. "We have many other
                  monuments on the territory of Turkey, which present a great value like
                  Akhtamar. But I must say with regret that these are irreversibly lost
                  because of permission of the Turkish authorities. I hope the Turkish
                  side will have the courage to bring these constructions to the former
                  shape. Otherwise, the reconstruction of the Holy Cross turns into a
                  simple propaganda action," said Hayk Demoyan.

                  Turkey pursues also economic aims from the perspective of attracting
                  tourists to Akhtamar Island, and according to the Director, it hardly
                  has the long-term and humanitarian programs of rescuing the cultural
                  heritage of Armenia on the agenda. He mentioned that if the Turkish
                  side is ready, the Institute is ready to provide the pictures and
                  geographic locations of the Churches the remnants of which need
                  to be saved. Nevertheless, according to Hayk Demoyan's assessment,
                  if Akhtamar has been reconstructed properly, it deserves praise.

                  Let us remind that the Turkish Culture Minister has sent an invitation
                  to RA Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs to attend the opening
                  ceremony of the Church.
                  General Antranik (1865-1927): “I am not a nationalist. I recognize only one nation, the nation of the oppressed.”

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    This would actually be a good move and really put the Turks on the spot.



                    PR SPECIALIST SAYS ARMENIA MUST GIVE A CROSS AS A GIFT TO ST. CROSS CHURCH IN TURKEY

                    Panorama.am
                    18:29 21/03/2007

                    One of the top issues of these days is the opening ceremony of
                    St. Cross Church in Turkey. Today Armenian foreign minister, Vardan
                    Oskanyan, said that most probably the Armenian delegation will be
                    headed by deputy minister of culture, Gagik Giurjyan.

                    Panorama.am interviewed one of PR specialists in Armenia on the
                    occasion. The latter said, "We must by all means go and in front of
                    the whole world give a cross as a gift from the side of Republic of
                    Armenia to put on top of the church."
                    General Antranik (1865-1927): “I am not a nationalist. I recognize only one nation, the nation of the oppressed.”

                    Comment

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