MORE THAN 20 PROFANED MONUMENTS IN THE BASIN OF LAKE VAN

ArmRadio.am
21.03.2007 12:40

The reconstruction of the Church of the Holy Cross on Akhtamar Island
is the simple political calculation of the Turkish side, a PR action
to counter the process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
Director of the Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan told Armenpress.

He noted that the results of the study carried out by the London based
" Komitas" Institute reveal that there are more than 20 demolished
and profaned monuments in the basin of Lake Van. "We have many other
monuments on the territory of Turkey, which present a great value like
Akhtamar. But I must say with regret that these are irreversibly lost
because of permission of the Turkish authorities. I hope the Turkish
side will have the courage to bring these constructions to the former
shape. Otherwise, the reconstruction of the Holy Cross turns into a
simple propaganda action," said Hayk Demoyan.

Turkey pursues also economic aims from the perspective of attracting
tourists to Akhtamar Island, and according to the Director, it hardly
has the long-term and humanitarian programs of rescuing the cultural
heritage of Armenia on the agenda. He mentioned that if the Turkish
side is ready, the Institute is ready to provide the pictures and
geographic locations of the Churches the remnants of which need
to be saved. Nevertheless, according to Hayk Demoyan’s assessment,
if Akhtamar has been reconstructed properly, it deserves praise.

Let us remind that the Turkish Culture Minister has sent an invitation
to RA Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs to attend the opening
ceremony of the Church.