YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. The restoration works of the Surb Khach (Saint Cross) Church of the Akhtamar Island were done at high level. Stating about it at the meeting with journalists, specialist on monuments Samvel Karapetian emphasized that Turk specialists restored the church "with mastery and skill exciting envy," by using every removed or pulled down stone. Opening of the Surb Khach Church will take place on April 15. According to the rumours being in circulation, the RA Minister of Culture and Youth Issues will also be invited to it. In S.Karapetian's words, there is yet no official information about the invitation. S.Karapetian expressed confidence that restoration of this church by the Turkish government has political and economic interest: in the first case this state wants to look like as civilized one, in the second case, it has clear economic accounting: this place is one of tourism points. "If I am mistaken why the Nareka vank (Narek monastery) which is just near the Surb Khach Church and other lakeside monasteries which were blown up in 60-70s are not restored," the speaker said. S.Karapetian, again touching upon destruction of the Jugha graveyard, inflexibly mentioned that Armenians also have their part of guilt in it: in his words, Europeans as well accused Armenians of this issue, saying that it was necessary to take adequate steps in time. The specialist on monuments also facted that preservation of monuments being in the territory of Armenia is also in poor state today. During the Soviet years, the Committee on Preservation of Monuments was among the structures attached to government, but today it decreased and became an agency with 7 employees. "This is an obvious state ill-will towards our monuments, and we speak about strangers' attitude," he emphasized.

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