Armenian Churches in Turkey Put Up for Sale: Anna Naghdalyan Responds

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Anna Naghdalyan, has responded to questions from the media regarding recent reports.

Question: Recently, Turkish media has again reported on the sale and destruction of Armenian churches in Turkey. There are also numerous documented instances of the destruction of Christian churches and cemeteries, which have not elicited any response from Turkish authorities. Additionally, in a speech at the provincial congress of the Justice and Development Party in Antalya, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu once again addressed Armenia, ‘advising’ it to learn lessons from history. Please provide your comments regarding these two issues.

Answer: We are aware of the information published in the Turkish media regarding the sale of Armenian churches in Turkey. Specifically, the Armenian Catholic church located in the Sebtash district of Bursa has been put up for sale for 6 million Turkish lira, while another Armenian church in Bursa has been priced at 6 million 300,000 Turkish lira. Furthermore, the Holy Toros Armenian church in western Turkey's Kütahya province has been destroyed.

We strongly condemn the Turkish authorities' ongoing policy of systematically destroying Armenian cultural heritage and the recent escalation of its illegal appropriation. We call on Turkey to fully comply with its obligations arising from international treaties. A state that exhibits such disrespectful behavior towards historical and cultural monuments cannot be considered a reliable partner in calls for regional peace and stability.

As for the ‘advice’ on ‘learning lessons from history,’ no one has the right to speak disrespectfully or threaten a nation that has survived a genocide. The Turkish authorities must clearly understand that a conducive atmosphere of trust is essential for dialogue, and the destruction of Armenian historical and cultural heritage unequivocally does not contribute to the formation of such an atmosphere.