ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
July 6, 2004 Tuesday 3:38 PM Eastern Time
World Armenian Congress worried over church destruction
MOSCOW
The World Armenian Congress has expressed concern over the condition
of the Akhtamar Saint Cross Church – a unique monument of medieval
Armenian architecture, which is situated in Turkey, on an island in
Lake Van.
The Saint Cross Church was built in 915-921, says a statement of the
World Armenian Congress received by Itar-Tass. It is so much
dilapidated now that “soon only ruins will be left of it.”
The World Armenian Congress urged the Turkish and Armenian
governments to take steps without delay for restoring the Akhtamar
Saint Cross Church and to hold talks with the participation of
international experts from UNESCO for outlining measures to be taken
for restoring this and other Armenian architectural monuments on the
Turkish territory.