WORSHIP TO BE ALLOWED AT ARMENIAN CHURCH ONCE A YEAR IN VAN

Hurriyet
March 25 2010
Turkey

The Culture and Tourism Ministry will allow worship once a year at
a church in Van, according to a statement released Thursday.

The historical Surp Hac (Holy Cross) Church on Akdamar Island in
the eastern district of Van was renovated and opened as a museum
in 2007 by former Culture Minister Atilla Koc. Since then, debate
has centered on whether the church would once again be opened for
prayer. Buildings designated as museums are not allowed to host
religious services under Turkish law.

In an interview with the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review in
January, Culture Minister Ertugrul Gunay said the ministry was making
the final legal arrangements to allow the church to open for prayer
once a year.

Renovating the Armenian church helped begin the normalization
process between Turkey and Armenia, but the church remained a topic
of considerable debate especially around speculation surrounding
whether a cross would be set atop the church. The decision on the
cross is still pending.