Hasmik Poghosyan expresses regret for the decision of not reopening the Akhtamar’s St. Cross Church for divine services

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13, ARMENPRESS: Turkish mass media recently spread information according to which Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Ertughrul Gunay stated that the St. Cross Armenian Church of the Van’s Akhtamar Island will not open for liturgy and cross will not be placed on its dome. “In this round when everything is being done to develop relations, such statements cannot bring any good. I do not think that such statements are proper in this round,” Armenian Culture Minister Hasmik Poghosyan said, commenting with the request of Armenpress, on such behavior of Turkey. According to the minister, in the conditions when there are no diplomatic relations, the Armenian side cannot have any influence on the decision but it contradicts the general process and the issues the policy of the two countries is directed to. “If such a decision was made, it remains only to feel regret. Culture always finds its way, the relations on the public level develop but on the state level it is possible to solve important inter-state issues which is not yet becoming a reality, though an attempt is being made in different ways to maintain cooperation in that field through public field,” H. Poghosyan said, noting that she does not have any document which will confirm that her Turkish counterpart made such a statement. Turkish “Milliyet” reported that the Turkish minister made the statement in response to the question of Van member of parliament from the “Peace and Democracy” party Ozdal Ucher about the works carried out toward placing a cross on the dome of the St. Cross Church and toward its reopening. E. Gunay noted that the church is considered a museum affiliated to the ministry and will continue operating for exclusively tourism purpose. Governor of Van Munir Karaloghlu was assuring that September 12, 2010 the St. Cross Church will open for divine services and liturgies. He was pointing out that the necessary paper work with the Culture Ministry in that respect has already been done. The opening of the reconstructed church took place March 29, 2007 and from that day the St. Cross Church operates as a museum.