TURKS TO RESTORE ARMENIAN CHURCH

news.am
Oct 29 2009
Armenia

The Armenian church in the city of Malatya (Turkey) will be restored,
Turkish Zaman daily reports. The Carmuzu Tepebası Mosque Building
and Preservation Foundation intends to restore the 250-year old church.

Armenian Church is located in the neighborhood where assassinated
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was born.

The foundation head Latif Yıldırım stated that "started planning the
project to help restore the Armenian Tashoron church in 2008 and wrote
letters to the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
as well as Armenian businessmen to win their support." According to
him, the foundation also spoke with the Armenian Patriarchate in March.

"Money had been allocated for the restoration by the Culture and
Tourism Ministry in 2009; however, due to budgetary problems, the
foundation decided to take on the costs of the restoration," the daily
reads. The initiative will be called a "project of peace." "We do not
think we will experience financial problems," Yıldırım underlined.

Armenian Archbishop Aram Ateshyan stated the church is a cultural
treasure, adding that some other churches are in need of restoration
too.