Installing a cross on Akhtamar church is an action directed against Nationalist Movement Party, the editor of Armenian-Turkish Agos daily Aris Nalci told NEWS.am. He noted that Turkish authorities are dealing with nationalists using Armenians. “Two steps- permission to pray and installing of a cross - are a part of political game,” he said, adding that permission for the prayer had no exact wording, it was just told that nationalists can pray in Ani Cathedral.

Nalci also said that the Van Governor gave no instructions to journalists to cover installing of a cross to avoid possible threats that can be provoked by nationalists. Regarding a prayer of Nationalist Movement Party, Nalci said that “he is laughing with us.” He also recalled recent publication in Agos: “One of our journalists wrote that in fact mosques did not satisfy Turkish nationalists and they decided to call on God in an Armenian church, as God cannot here them from mosques. Thus, they decided to pray in church for God to here them”.

There were only 3000 people praying in Ani, despite forecasts by nationalists who claimed 10,000 people would be present, Nalci said. “If a leader of major Turkish party fails to gather 10,000 people, it means the party is dying,” he added.