By Artur Hakobyan

Even though numerous Turkish officials speak about preserving Ani—the ancient Armenian capital city—and developing tourism there, the reality shows something else. 

Despite the statement made by Hakan Doganay, Director of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Turkey’s Kars Province, according to whom he had warned the villagers of Ocakli—which is located nearby Ani—not to use the area of ancient Ani as a pasture, the area continues to be a grazing land for cows and horses.    

It was noted that Ani’s security personnel and the fence surrounding the area are unable to keep the nearby village’s shepherds back.

The tourists who visit Ani constantly complain about seeing cows inside the churches there, which is an unpleasant scene.

The Ocakli villagers have argued that this year is arid, and therefore they have driven the animals to Ani to find fodder. Also, they claimed that they take care of the ruins of Ani.

To note, the Ocakli villagers have always used Ani as a pasture. Furthermore, the walls that enclose the village’s homes, barns, and streets are built by the stones that were stolen from Ani’s historical constructions.