SAMVEL KARAPETIAN: TURKISH SPECIALISTS RESTORE SURB KHACH
CHURCH WITH MASTERY AND SKILL EXCITING ENVY
22-02-2007 14:43:00 | Armenia | Social
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.