OPENING OF AKHTAMAR CHURCH TO TAKE PLACE EARLIER THAN IT WAS ANNOUNCED BEFORE, ON MARCH 29

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
March 5 2007

ISTANBUL, MARCH 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The day of opening
of Akhtamar Surb Khach (St Cross) Church was moved from April 15 to
March 29. According to the Hurriyet Turkish newspaper, the reason of
changing the date is the fair planned in the German city of Hannover.

But political scientists suppose that by opening the church earlier
they make an attempt to have a favorable influence on American public
opinion and to prevent adoption of resolution on Armenian Genocide in
U.S. Congress.

The church will be opened by the Turkish Prime Minister personally.

Besides representatives of Armenian community, it is planned to
invite members of Armenian government, political scientists and
intellectuals to the opening of the church. Turkish Minister of
Culture Atilla Koch will take part in the solemn ceremony,
participation of Armenian Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosian is
also expected.

According to the Marmara daily, the issue of placing a cross on
Akhtamar Surb Khach Church has become a disputable issue for the
Turkish government. Architect Yagub Hazan who has assumed the
responsibility for repairs by the Ministry of Culture, mentioned that
as a result of searches they found only a picture, on which a cross
was vaguely seen and the architect does not consider it expedient to
place a cross like that on the cupola. While, architect Zakaria
Mildanoglu who was chosen by the Armenian commmunity for following
the process of repairs, counteracted to him. Referring to
international laws, according to which when repairing they should
take as a basis the original, he said that on his initiative a group
of specialists has projected a cross with a height of 2.5 meters.

Besides, one of the officials involved in church repairing
activities, Cahid Zeydanl said that they avoid placing a cross being
afraid of the danger of lightning, which can become a cause of
church’s fire.