DEPUTY MINISTER TO TAKE PART IN OPENING OF CHURCH

“Armenia will officially participate in the opening of the church on Aghtamar,” Vartan Oskanyan, Armenian foreign minister, told reporters today. In his words, the deputy minister of culture will take part in the ceremony instead of the minister of culture. “Most probably, the delegation will be headed by deputy minister Gagik Giurjyan,” Oskanyan said.

“It seems Turkey has demonstrated good will by recovering the church and inviting a delegation from Armenia. However, because the Armenian-Turkish border is closed, our delegation cannot go on car. The delegation has to take a flight to Istanbul and then drive to Van, or else, it has to go through the territory of Georgia, which will take 16 hours,” the minister explained.

Reminder: St. Cross Church on the island of Aghtamar was recently renovated by the funds released by the Turkish government. The opening of the church will take place on March 29.