March 24, 2007 - 13:25 AMT
Opening of Agdamar Church profitable for Turkey politically and economically
"It is immoral to thank Turkey for reconstructing historical monuments. We'd better remind that the Armenian church in Kars, which was built in 10th century, has been turned into a mosque. We should not express our delight for reconstruction of the Holly Cross Church in Agdamar," Director of the Armenian Genocide Institute Hayk Demoyan told a press conference in Yerevan. He said, Turkey is a country, which does not keep international agreements. Particularly Turkey violates 43rd article of Lausanne treaty signed in 1923, according to which it must preserve historical monuments of various national minorities residing in Turkey.

The Armenian historian also stressed that Armenian delegation's participation in the opening ceremony of Holly Church in Agdamar is one more plus for Turkey. "The matter is not in if the Armenian delegation should attend the ceremony or not. The matter is in the fact that we did not express our stance on that issue. The opening of the Holly Cross Church will bring political and economic dividends for Turkey. But if Ankara really wants to normalize relations with Yerevan, in this respect a more efficient step would be joint reconstruction of the bridge in Ani, which was built by architecture Toros Toromanian," Hayk Demoyan underscored.