Hayk Demoyan: Turkey roughly violates Treaty of Lausanne

April 20, 2010 - 16:28 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum and Institute Hayk Demoyan said that throughout its history Turkey has been destroying Armenian monuments, roughly violating the Treaty of Lausanne. Destruction of cultural heritage is a punishable offence, while Armenia has all facts proving destruction of Armenian monuments at Turkey’s territory, Demoyan told Cultural Genocide international conference in Yerevan. According to him, Armenia is ready to provide these facts to any international institution.

“We should act efficiently and adequately estimate the actions similar to destruction of Armenian monuments in Julfa,” the historian said. According to him, feeling the approaching threat, today Turkey states about its readiness to reconstruct Surb Khach Church of Akhtamar Island, however, it is a lie. “Through these statements Ankara wants to divest itself of responsibility,” Mr. Demoyan noted.

Holy Cross Church

The 300-seat Holy Cross Church, located on a small island in the middle of Lake Van in eastern Turkey, is in many ways a symbol of the country's Armenian community. The church was built between 915 and 921 during the reign of Armenian King Gagik I of Vaspurakan and was one of the most important religious buildings in the region. The church, whose sandstone walls and dome are adorned with carvings of Jesus Christ and David and Goliath, is considered one of the greatest examples of Armenian architecture of the period, and an inspiration for the Gothic style that later developed in Europe, according to the New York-based Landmarks Foundation, which has advised on the church's restoration. By the end of last century, the church was falling apart due to the heavy rains and winds that swept across the lake.

Following its restoration and reopening in 2007 Holy Cross Church was operating as a museum.