Joseph's comments
Numerous questions/ issues that stick out regarding the upcoming event at Aghtamar:
1) It's a pure Turkish political PR campaign (and a crude one at that) specifically targeting the Armenian genocide recognition campaign.
2) It's not a church opening, it's a museum opening (The church will seemingly go the route of the Haiga Sophia)
3) This "museum" will generate Turkish tourism money off of what remained of Armenian culture after the Armenians were exterminated (note: it was only recently admitted by nationalist/state Turkish historians that the church was Armenian in the first place)
4) The invitations sent out were basically a form letters, no mention of
security, no mention of discounted flights to/from Ankara, no mention of
going with other Armenians in groups, no direct flight from Armenia to Turkey for the event etc.
5) The Istanbul Patriarchate is not really involved in what the Turkish
government is doing with the structure -- it is an Armenian church in
Anatolia afterfall.
6) The Turkish Ministry of Culture changed the name of Akhtamar to Akdamar (white or clean veins in Turkish)
7) There is no cross on the church and the Ministry of Culture apparently
"can't find one" or claimed a cross would get "struck by lighting". I am not religious, but not putting a cross on a church in eastern Turkey is a political item.
8) A week and half notice is very poor planning. People have jobs and
families.
9) The entire time alloted to spend at the site is ONE HOUR!!!! (just enough time to snap photos with Mutafian to post to newsites worldwide)
The impression I get is that the Turkish Ministry of Culture was so
desperate to get this thing off to deflect the diaspora efforts at Genocide Recognition and to appeal to everyone that they are making genuine steps. I believe the majority of Armenians and other familiar with the issue (besides the McCarthy's of the world) can see right through this.
They spit in our faces and call it rain.
Numerous questions/ issues that stick out regarding the upcoming event at Aghtamar:
1) It's a pure Turkish political PR campaign (and a crude one at that) specifically targeting the Armenian genocide recognition campaign.
2) It's not a church opening, it's a museum opening (The church will seemingly go the route of the Haiga Sophia)
3) This "museum" will generate Turkish tourism money off of what remained of Armenian culture after the Armenians were exterminated (note: it was only recently admitted by nationalist/state Turkish historians that the church was Armenian in the first place)
4) The invitations sent out were basically a form letters, no mention of
security, no mention of discounted flights to/from Ankara, no mention of
going with other Armenians in groups, no direct flight from Armenia to Turkey for the event etc.
5) The Istanbul Patriarchate is not really involved in what the Turkish
government is doing with the structure -- it is an Armenian church in
Anatolia afterfall.
6) The Turkish Ministry of Culture changed the name of Akhtamar to Akdamar (white or clean veins in Turkish)
7) There is no cross on the church and the Ministry of Culture apparently
"can't find one" or claimed a cross would get "struck by lighting". I am not religious, but not putting a cross on a church in eastern Turkey is a political item.
8) A week and half notice is very poor planning. People have jobs and
families.
9) The entire time alloted to spend at the site is ONE HOUR!!!! (just enough time to snap photos with Mutafian to post to newsites worldwide)
The impression I get is that the Turkish Ministry of Culture was so
desperate to get this thing off to deflect the diaspora efforts at Genocide Recognition and to appeal to everyone that they are making genuine steps. I believe the majority of Armenians and other familiar with the issue (besides the McCarthy's of the world) can see right through this.
They spit in our faces and call it rain.
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