Turkey’s State Minister Egemen Bagis visiting Eastern regions of Turkey made an amazing statement – to reopen and raise a cross on St. Khach church on Akhtamar island before RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s arrival, Hurriyet reports.

Egemen Bagis on his way from Akhtamar island asked Mayor of Van Gevaş Nazmi Sezer: “What if we reopen Akhtamar church for service?”

Mayor Gevaş replied: “Mister Minister, it would be great, and to put up a cross too… But wouldn’t it incite a counteraction?”

Bagis responded: “What counteraction are you talking about? On the contrary, it will boost tourism. People all over the world sending me inquires on Akhtamar church reopening. And all those on board say the same. For 10 hours that I am traveling around the territory, everyone I meet says the same. Once in Athens I saw a locked mosque and felt bitterness. Same with Akhtamar. How deplorable, isn’t it? Isn’t Akhtamar a part of history? Mosques are being open in Europe as prayer houses, and it is normal. Then, why Akhtamar is under a ban? What does it mean – to close Armenian borders and forbid Kurdish? Well, Greeks are bad too, this is prohibited, that is not allowed.

For many years we have lived in a nightmare: ‘Communism regime – close the Soviet border; fundamentalism – close Iranian border; terrorism – mine Syrian border; Armenian demands – close the Armenian border.’ Where this path leads to? This is the way to national isolation. And here and now I realize how terribly the nation destroys its history and heritage. I think I discovered the long-chased Monster of Lake Van. We ourselves are this imaginary monster – as for many years we have been severely obliterate our freedom, faith, wealth and history.

President of Turkey Abdullah Gul initiated a crucial process. We have visited Armenia with national football team. And now Armenian President arrives in Turkey. I propose to reopen the church and put up a cross before his arrival. Is it a worship to another God? No, by doing so, we acknowledge world and religious liberty. Eventually, under Ottoman Empire Akhtamar church diocese requested the sultan to open a seminary and got consent. The priests engraved a gratitude note on the church. I saw it inside the church and was astonished by the power, grandeur and wealth and intrepidity of the state. Don’t we learn lessons of Ottoman Empire’s history? Are we that much afraid?”

These were the words of Egemen Bagis, Turkish Minister of State.