TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY DECLINES TO PLACE CROSS ON CUPOLA OF SURB KHACH CHURCH ON AGHTAMAR ISLAND OF LAKE VAN

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 12 2007

ISTANBUL, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Turkish
foreign ministry rejected the proposal of the Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian to place a cross on the
cupola of Surb Khach Church on Aghtamar Island of Lake Van.

The Turkish ministry of culture recently applied to the country’s
ministry of foreign affairs on the issue of cross.

According to the newspaper "Marmara" (Istanbul), the foreign minister
informed heads of both the ministry of culture and the museum (NT:
Surb Khach Church) about his decision to reject this proposal.

The Turkish ministry of foreign affairs "substantiated" its decision
by the fact that Aya Sofia museum (NT: St Sofia church) does not have
a cross and crescent symbolizing Christianity or Islam on its cupola
either. "Aghtamar will be used as a museum so it would be incorrect
to mount a cross on its cupola," the Turkish MFA stated.