Adnan Ertem, General Director of the Directorate General of Foundations of Turkey, has given a comical explanation in connection with the expropriation of the functioning Surp (Saint) Giragos Armenian Church in Sur district of Diyarbakır city.

Ertem told Agos Armenian bilingual weekly of Istanbul that the expropriation of all buildings in Sur is not aimed at historic structures.

He argued that this expropriation plan envisions the preservation of the historic structures around which numerous illegal buildings were constructed.

According to the Turkish Council of Ministers’ decision, all structures in Sur district of Diyarbakır, including the Surp Giragos Church, have been expropriated.

The Surp Giragos, which is one of the largest churches in the Middle East, had reopened as a functioning church and was reconsecrated in October 2011.

The church was renovated with the co-funding by Diyarbakır Armenians throughout the world and Diyarbakır City Hall.