08 03 2007 - SURB KHACH CHURCH OF AKHTAMAR IS AN EXCEPTION

For photographs see www.gomidas.org/press/2March07PressRelease.htm
"Comitas Intsitute" of London makes comments on the reconstruction "Surb Khach" church of Akhtamar Isle, Turkey, in a press release.

"During the last two years the Turkish authorities have made much noise about the restoration of a 10-th century Armenian church. It is not clear yet, whether it is a peace gesture addressed to Armenia or an effort to conceal the Genocide and destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage. Today (March 3 - Azg) president of the ‘Turkish Historic Society’ Yusuf Halacoglu, according to ‘New Anatolian’ newspaper said, ‘We (Turks) have nothing to conceal… Akhtamar Church opening ceremony will be a gesture to the Armenians and the entire world. After the conquest of Anatolia the Turks did not destroy the property of foreigners. Nothing decayed and all was preserved in the same state by today’.

Surely these words will be doubted by the guests invited to the ceremony. Those who decide to make a trip around will clearly see that Akhtamar is an exception. Before the World War I there were numerous Armenian churches on the Akhtamar isle, 20km far from ‘Surb Khach’. None of them exists today. The most part of them is ruined and the grave diggers are given freedom to spoil the area, and the authorities pay no attention to vandalism and desecration," says the release.

By H. Tsulikian

For photographs see www.gomidas.org/press/2March07PressRelease.htm

V.V