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Armenian church reopens in Turkey Ankara restores Armenian church
(about 2 hours later)
A senior Armenian delegation is in eastern Turkey for the reopening of a 1,100-year-old Armenian church restored by the Turkish government. Turkey has renovated a 1,100-year-old church in the east of country, in what is seen as a move to improve ties with neighbouring Armenia.
The ceremony on Akdamar island on Lake Van was attended by senior Armenian officials, despite the two countries' lack of diplomatic ties.
The move is being seen as a positive gesture by Ankara to help overcome the animosity following the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915.The move is being seen as a positive gesture by Ankara to help overcome the animosity following the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915.
The two countries have no formal diplomatic ties. The church will now be a museum.
Located on the small island of Akdamar in Lake Van, the pink sandstone church has undergone 18 months of renovation. Plea for worship
New projects Patriarch Mesrob II, spiritual leader of Turkey's tiny Armenian Orthodox community, told several hundred people at the ceremony that the government should open up the restored church for worship at least once a year.
The building, which has now reopened as a museum, had long been left empty and neglected, its intricate wall carvings crumbling. The church has fine carvings of saints on its facade
In a move described by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a positive step, the government spent $1.5m (£763,000) on its restoration. He said the move would help reconciliation between Turks and Armenians.
The 20-strong Armenian delegation of architects, engineers and archaeologists is headed by Deputy Culture Minister Gagik Gyurjyan. "If our government approves, it will contribute to peace between two communities who have not been able to come together for years," he said.
Turkish Culture Minister Attila Koc said Ankara would consider the request.
But the head of Armenia's Apostolic Church, Garegin II, declined Ankara's invitation to attend the ceremony because the church will no longer function as a place of worship.
So far Turkey has ignored calls to place a cross on the conical roof.
Future projects
The Church of Surp Khach - or Holy Cross - is one of the finest surviving monuments of Armenian culture in the region.
It had long been left empty and neglected, its intricate wall carvings depicting biblical scenes crumbling.
The Turkish government spent $1.5m (£763,000) on its restoration, which took 18 months to complete.
The 20-strong Armenian delegation of architects, engineers and archaeologists attending the ceremony was headed by Deputy Culture Minister Gagik Gyurjyan.
Mr Gyurjyan said they were not in Turkey just to witness the renovation of the church, which was built between 915-921.Mr Gyurjyan said they were not in Turkey just to witness the renovation of the church, which was built between 915-921.
"We think we can discuss new projects regarding the future," he said, according to Turkey's Anatolia news agency."We think we can discuss new projects regarding the future," he said, according to Turkey's Anatolia news agency.
"Our experts can co-operate in many areas including archaeology, architecture and industry.""Our experts can co-operate in many areas including archaeology, architecture and industry."
Border closedBorder closed
But relations between the two countries remain tense.But relations between the two countries remain tense.
The church has fine carvings of saints on its facadeTurkey closed its border with Armenia in the 1990s to support Azerbaijan in its dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in the 1990s to support Azerbaijan in its dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.To get to Akdamar, Armenian officials had to travel via Istanbul or Georgia.
To get to Akdamar, Armenian officials have had to travel via Istanbul or Georgia.
Armenians say 1.5 million of their people were killed in a genocide by Ottoman Turks during World War I, either through systematic massacres or through starvation.Armenians say 1.5 million of their people were killed in a genocide by Ottoman Turks during World War I, either through systematic massacres or through starvation.
More than a dozen countries, various international bodies and many Western historians agree that it was genocide.More than a dozen countries, various international bodies and many Western historians agree that it was genocide.
Turkey says there was no genocide. It acknowledges that many Armenians died, but says the figure was below one million.Turkey says there was no genocide. It acknowledges that many Armenians died, but says the figure was below one million.
Police reportedly detained five trade unionists who staged a demonstration on a jetty on Lake Van to protest against the church's restoration.
The protesters carried Turkish flags, pictures of modern Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and a banner reading: "The Turkish people are noble. They would never commit genocide", Anatolia news agency said.