Turkish-style European adaptation

Yerkir/arm
December 10, 2004

The desperate efforts that Turkey makes to convince the Europeans it
has adopted the European values and principles has been discussed a
lot.

The last example was the Turkish prime minister’s inauguration of an
Armenian museum where he made a “tender” speech how his government
values Turkey’s minorities, including Armenians. The trick’s goal was
to change Turkey’s image in the mind of an average European who likes
idyllic pictures.

Turkey is trying to once again deceive the international community
like it did a few years ago. International organizations, including
UNESCO, expended significant grants to Turkey who had committed to
restore and preserve historical monuments on the modern Turkey’s
territory. Now, Europeans and advocates of Europeanizing Turkey can
themselves see how those monuments — and especially the 10th-century
St. Cross Armenian church of Agtamar — were “restored.”

The picture on the left was taken before the “restoration.” One can
clearly see the cross held by angels. The Armenian cross of the church
has disappeared on the right-hand photo taken after the “restoration”
which has changed nothing else. Isn’t this how Turkey adapting
European values?