Diyarbakir Mayor: we welcome Armenian delegation to the land of their ancestorsOctober 22, 2011 - 17:21 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - On the occasion of consecration of restored Surp Giragos Church, Armenian women entrepreneurs’ delegation arrived in Diyarbakir, eastern Turkey (historical Western Armenia, Tigranakert). On the sidelines of the visit, the delegation met with Diyarbakir Mayor Abdullah Demirbas. As Mr. Demirbah noted at the meeting, leaflets saying “Welcome” in Armenian will be distributed during the consecration ceremony. “We welcome you to the land of your ancestors, and we hope this land will continue carrying signs of your culture,” the Mayor said. As Today’s Zaman reported earlier, a delegation of prominent members of the American-Armenian community was scheduled to arrive in Turkey on Friday, October 21, in an unprecedented visit to various religious sites throughout the country. The 25-member delegation, which includes U.S.-based influential businessmen and religious figures, will embark on a six-day tour of key religious sites in Istanbul, Diyarbakir and Van. The visit comes after the completion of restoration work on the 15th-century Surp Giragos Church in Diyarbakir province, one of the largest churches in the Middle East and a historic center of Turkey’s once thriving Armenian population. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and other high level members of the American-Armenian diocese will participate in the church’s reopening which is slated for Oct. 23. The delegation also plans to attend a ceremony at the recently restored Armenian church on Akhtamar Island in the province of Van. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |