Turkish Culture Minister did not use word "Armenia" even once in opening of Holy Cross Church

PanARMENIAN.Net - The restoration of the Holy Cross Church had been sold to the world - and specifically to the US, whose House of Representatives is about to consider a resolution labeling the Armenian deaths genocide - as proof that Turkey wants to put things right with the Armenians, British newspaper The Independent reports. The article says, despite the protests of the restoration project's Armenian architect, a cross was ruled out - as is any immediate prospect of this Christian church being consecrated so Armenians might, occasionally at least, pray here again. "The church is reopening as a museum and doesn't need a cross. Around 22,000 Ottoman buildings have had crescents taken off when attacked. Other countries don't give as much attention to that," Yusuf Halacoglu, the head of the Turkish Historical Society, insisted.



"The Turkish crescent and a giant Ataturk hung from the front of the church where, after a triumphal rendition of the Turkish national anthem, the culture and tourism minister, Atilla Koc made his address. "We protect the cultural diversity and assets of different cultures," he proclaimed during a speech in which the word "Armenia" was not used once," the newspaper writes. He also mentions that 29 delegates have arrived from Armenia in Van via Georgia since the Armenian-Turkish border is closed from 1993.



Spiritual leader of Armenians of Istanbul Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan had a speech at the ceremony and said, "It is quite a positive move in Turkish-Armenian relations and I offer my profound thanks." The Independent reminds the Archbishop asked Turks to allow the church to become the site of annual pilgrimage, concluding in a Christian ceremony, once a year. Patriarch Mutafyan reminded Levon Ter-Petrossian, Armenia's first president, and his search for common ground. Mr. Ter-Petrossian wanted a monument on the countries' border with the inscription, in Armenian and Turkish, of the words "I'm sorry". It was never built.