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[Yervant1]

TURKISH AUTHORITY'S DECISION TO TAKE ARMENIAN CHURCH UNDER PROTECTION REMAINS UNREALIZED


http://armenpress.am...unrealized.html
13:49, 19 August, 2013

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, ARMENPRESS. Yilmaz Yamaj, the owner of Armenian
Bashvank church in Turkish town of Tokaclı, announced that the
Turkish Government has left the decision to take the Armenian church
under its protection unrealized.

As reports "Armenpress" citing Istanbul-based "Agos" periodical,
Yilmaz turned to the Ministry of Culture of Turkey yet in 2012 and
now he demands that the Government must realize its decision to take
Armenian church under its protection as a cultural heritage. Among
other things he noted that the villagers still use the church as a
stable and keep their animals there.

In addition Yilmaz Yamaj underscored: "Whenever I go to the village, I
see the European tourists interested in the church. They get angry with
the Turks and ask: 'Do you keep cattle in your mosques?' I am willing
to give the certificate of ownership to the Armenian community. I
don't want such an exquisite historical monument to disappear."

Also the periodical stated that the church preserved its former beauty
despite the poor conditions