TURKEY REOPENS ARMENIAN AKDAMAR CHURCH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADANA 000047 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV TU SUBJECT: TURKEY REOPENS ARMENIAN AKDAMAR CHURCH ADANA 00000047 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Following a year and a half of restoration work, the 10th century Armenian Akdamar Church was reopened in a March 29 ceremony attended by a GOAM delegation and members of the diplomatic establishment from Ankara, as well as members of Turkey's Armenian population. In opening remarks, Culture Minister Koc said the reopening of the church as a memorial museum was to perpetuate world culture. Armenian Patriarch for Istanbul and all of Turkey Mesrob II saw the opening as a positive development in Turkish-Armenian relations and called for annual use of the church as a pilgrimage destination and festival site and place for a Holy Liturgy, paving the way for dialogue between Turkey and Armenia. The GOT maintains that Akdamar will remain a museum but is considering Mesrob's request that it display a cross. End summary. Akdamar Reopens as a Museum -------------- ¶2. (U) On March 29, the ancient Armenian Akdamar Church, also known as Surp Khach or Holy Cross, located on a small island on Lake Van in southestern Turkey, was reopened and designated as a monument museum after an 18 month long GOT-funded, YTL 2.6 million (USD 1.9 million) restoration project, led by an Armenian architect.. Armenian Deputy Culture Minister Gagik Gyurjyan led a 20-member Armenian delegation to the reopening celebration, which included Turkey's Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II, as well as other Armenians who traveled to Turkey from Yerevan for the occasion. The U.S. Charge and Ambassadors from Israel, Germany and other countries also attended the ceremony, for which the GOT provided a chartered aircraft from Ankara. Archbishops Museg Mardirosyian and Sempad Lapaciyan from Los Angeles, and Hacag Barsamyan from New York also participated. Earlier in the week, the head of the Armenian Orthodox Church, Karekin II, refused to attend the reopening because the church will operate as a museum, and not as a holy place. Koc: Perpetuating Cultural Heritage While Keeping Politics and Religion Separate -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) In opening remarks at the ceremony, entitled "Respect the History, Respect the Culture," Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Atilla Koc emphasized Turkey's rich "cultural geography in which different cultures have blended" throughout history. Using the official GOT-designated name and spelling ["Aghtamar" is the alternative spelling preferred by Armenians] of the church, Koc said that "the main purpose of the restoration of Van Akdamar Church Memorial Museum is to perpetuate a world cultural heritage." Koc later told the press that the opening was intended as an exercise in good will, an effort to show that Turkey bears no ill will toward Armenians despite many political problems. Koc emphasized that he was trying to do his best to maintain a separation between the political and the sacred. Patriarch: Positive Development in Turkish-Armenian Relations -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Striking a conciliatory note in his remarks, and "on behalf of the Armenian citizens of Turkey," Patriarch Mesrob II offered "profound thanks" to the GOT for completing the restoration "despite much harsh and politicized criticism from various opponents." He emphasized that the restoration work was "a positive development in Turkish-Armenian relations, which I hope will be blessed by the efforts of all people of good will." The Patriarch called for the church to become "the focal point of an annual pilgrimage," wherein "a special Divine Liturgy" could be held once a year, and "an Aghtamar Festival linked to it," to someday "pave the way for the longed-for dialogue, which both sides have not achieved to date." Comment -------------- ¶5. (SBU) While the mood of the ceremony was positive, some Turkish commentators noted that the Van Provincial Governor neglected to welcome the Armenian delegation or Mesrob II in his opening remarks. The press also noted that no one from the Armenian delegation from Yerevan was asked to speak at the ceremony. Going forward, critics will undoubtedly focus on the request by the Armenian clergy to affix a cross to the church, which various ministries in Ankara are currently considering. For the moment, however, the GOT has earned some goodwill by committing the resources to refurbish the site and by hosting a high-level ceremony focused on cultural, political and spiritual ADANA 00000047 002.2 OF 002 reconciliation. GREEN