TURKEY'S SHAME: AGHTAMAR ISLAND AND THE DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN CULTURAL PROPERTIES IN TURKEY
3 March 2007
PRESS RELEASE
Gomidas Institute
42 Blythe Rd.
London W14 0HA
England(2 March
Tel: xx 44 20 7603 7242
Web: www.gomidas.org
Email: info@gomidas.org
Contact Person: Roland Mnatsakanyan
For photographs accompanying this press release see www.gomidas.org/press/2March07PressRelease.htm
Over the past two years, Turkish authorities made much of the restoration of a 10th century Armenian church on Aghtamar island in Lake Van. Until recently, it was not clear whether this restoration project was a peaceful gesture to Armenians, or a crude glossover the reality of the Armenian Genocide and the destruction of Armenian cultural properties in modern Turkey.
Today, the head of the Turkish Historical Society, Yusuf Halaçoğlu, commented on the opening of the restored Holy Cross church on Aghtamar Island on April 15th, 2007. We hope his words do not reflect official thinking in Ankara.
According to The New Anatolian, Halaçoğlu stated that "We [Turks] don't have anything to hide... Opening the Agdamar Church will be a gesture to Armenians and the whole world… After the conquering of Anatolia, the Turks didn't damage foreign assets… Nothing was destroyed. In this way, these assets have survived through to today."
Halaçoğlu's words will surely prove to be an embarrassment to Turkey. Should the guests invited to the opening of the church on April 15th decide to look around them, they will see that Aghtamar Island is an exception.
On the eve of World War I, there were scores of medieval Armenian churches within 20 km of Aghtamar Island alone, and practically none of them remain standing today. Most of them have been completely destroyed during the life of the Turkish Republic. Today grave diggers enjoy a free hand looting these localities while Turkish state authorities continue to turn a blind eye to these acts of desecration.
Halacoglu's words only add to Turkey's shame.
For photographs accompanying this press release see www.gomidas.org/press/2March07PressRelease.htm
PRESS RELEASE
Gomidas Institute
42 Blythe Rd.
London W14 0HA
England(2 March
Tel: xx 44 20 7603 7242
Web: www.gomidas.org
Email: info@gomidas.org
Contact Person: Roland Mnatsakanyan
For photographs accompanying this press release see www.gomidas.org/press/2March07PressRelease.htm
Over the past two years, Turkish authorities made much of the restoration of a 10th century Armenian church on Aghtamar island in Lake Van. Until recently, it was not clear whether this restoration project was a peaceful gesture to Armenians, or a crude glossover the reality of the Armenian Genocide and the destruction of Armenian cultural properties in modern Turkey.
Today, the head of the Turkish Historical Society, Yusuf Halaçoğlu, commented on the opening of the restored Holy Cross church on Aghtamar Island on April 15th, 2007. We hope his words do not reflect official thinking in Ankara.
According to The New Anatolian, Halaçoğlu stated that "We [Turks] don't have anything to hide... Opening the Agdamar Church will be a gesture to Armenians and the whole world… After the conquering of Anatolia, the Turks didn't damage foreign assets… Nothing was destroyed. In this way, these assets have survived through to today."
Halaçoğlu's words will surely prove to be an embarrassment to Turkey. Should the guests invited to the opening of the church on April 15th decide to look around them, they will see that Aghtamar Island is an exception.
On the eve of World War I, there were scores of medieval Armenian churches within 20 km of Aghtamar Island alone, and practically none of them remain standing today. Most of them have been completely destroyed during the life of the Turkish Republic. Today grave diggers enjoy a free hand looting these localities while Turkish state authorities continue to turn a blind eye to these acts of desecration.
Halacoglu's words only add to Turkey's shame.
For photographs accompanying this press release see www.gomidas.org/press/2March07PressRelease.htm
Labels: Turkey - Armenian Monuments
posted by Vahe Balabanian at 9:23 PM
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