TURKISH CULTURE MINISTER DID NOT USE WORD "ARMENIA" EVEN ONCE IN OPENING OF HOLY CROSS CHURCH

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.03.2007 15:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The restoration of the Holy Cross Church had
been sold to the world – and specifically to the US, whose House of
Representatives is about to consider a resolution labeling the Armenian
deaths genocide – as proof that Turkey wants to put things right with
the Armenians, British newspaper The Independent reports. The article
says, despite the protests of the restoration project’s Armenian
architect, a cross was ruled out – as is any immediate prospect
of this Christian church being consecrated so Armenians might,
occasionally at least, pray here again. "The church is reopening as
a museum and doesn’t need a cross. Around 22,000 Ottoman buildings
have had crescents taken off when attacked. Other countries don’t
give as much attention to that," Yusuf Halacoglu, the head of the
Turkish Historical Society, insisted.

"The Turkish crescent and a giant Ataturk hung from the front of the
church where, after a triumphal rendition of the Turkish national
anthem, the culture and tourism minister, Atilla Koc made his
address. "We protect the cultural diversity and assets of different
cultures," he proclaimed during a speech in which the word "Armenia"
was not used once," the newspaper writes. He also mentions that 29
delegates have arrived from Armenia in Van via Georgia since the
Armenian-Turkish border is closed from 1993.

Spiritual leader of Armenians of Istanbul Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan
had a speech at the ceremony and said, "It is quite a positive move
in Turkish-Armenian relations and I offer my profound thanks." The
Independent reminds the Archbishop asked Turks to allow the
church to become the site of annual pilgrimage, concluding in a
Christian ceremony, once a year. Patriarch Mutafyan reminded Levon
Ter-Petrossian, Armenia’s first president, and his search for common
ground. Mr. Ter-Petrossian wanted a monument on the countries’
border with the inscription, in Armenian and Turkish, of the words
"I’m sorry". It was never built.