TURKISH-ARMENIAN UNION CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF CHURCHES
tert.am
28.08.12
A union of Turkish-Armenians dealing with social assistance and culture
protection issues has applied to the provincial administration of
Batman, calling for measures to take the Armenian churches under
protection.
According to the Turkish new website Haberler, the chief of the union
called special attention to the fact that Armenian churches in the
region have been increasingly facing the threat of destruction over
the recent period.
“The St. Astvatsatsin Church on Mount Marouta, which was destroyed
by vandals, was the last example. And the St Peter church of the
Meseli village in Sasun region has to be taken under protection
too, before it is destroyed. The church in Resmik village, and the
St. Astvatatsin churh of the Kozlol region also need protection,”
Aziz Dagic was quoted as saying.
He was skeptical about the allegations that the churches were destroyed
by treasure hunters.
“We, as a community, have come up with a situation that we can no
longer pray. All these churches are registered. Under Article 42
of the Lausanne Peace Treaty, the Turkish government is obliged to
protect the churches and the religious institutions belonging to the
minorities. The Republic of Turkey has to comply with that clause of
the Lausanne Treaty,” Dagic said.