YEREVAN. – The Culture Ministry of Armenia has decided to present the Grigor Narekatsi (St. Gregory of Narek) Medal to renowned Turkish-Kurdish writer and publicist Yasar Kemal.     

Kemal was considered deserving of this award for his deep respect toward the cultural heritage of the Armenian nation, his devotion to civic ventures, justice, freedom and human dignity, and for his literary merit.      

The medal will be presented to Kemal on September 4, in Istanbul. 

To note, owing to the efforts by Yasar Kemal, the Turkish authorities’ plan to destroy the Surp Khach (Holy Cross) Armenian Church on Akhtamar Island in Lake Van was stopped in 1951.