Historic Bursa church may soon be closedFebruary 22, 2016 - 15:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Bursa Governor's Office has ordered that the only church in the city be vacated by February 26, the Radikal daily reported, according to Today's Zaman. The report says, in particular, that four Christian communities restored the church between 2002 and 2004, which opened for worship after a protocol with the municipality was signed. The pastor of the Protestant community, İsmail Kulaçoğlu, told Radikal that the protocol expired in 2015, with the municipality asking the communities to re-apply. Kulaçoğlu said they received an order to vacate the premises on February 18 after the re-application. The General Directorate for Foundations did not warn the communities beforehand, giving them eight days to leave the church, according to Kulaçoğlu. The church is the only Christian house of worship in the city. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. Ex-President: Only removal of “defeatist” rulers can save Armenia Former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has shared a message on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Pashinyan: We must stop searching for homeland, we have found that homeland Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has shared a message on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. |