After Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the monument to Armenia-Turkey friendship “monstrous” in Kars, a large number of people rush to Kars to see the monument.

Hundreds of people from Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, Van and other cities arrive in Kars to see the monument by famous Turkish sculptor Mehmet Askol, Samanyolu reports. They discuss whether the monument must be demolished or not.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported previously, former Mayor of Kars Naif Alibeyoglu and the famous sculptor of the monument Mehmed Askol responded to the Turkish Premier’s statement.

Naif Alibeyoglu has always stood for the opening of the Armenia-Turkey border without any preconditions and for this purpose organized a collection of signature in Kars. On his initiative, a large monument was put to represent the Armenian-Turkish friendship and peace. However, Alibeyoglu was defeated in the mayoral elections in 2009. The unfinished monument was put near the old Armenian district of Kars.

A group of intellectuals and art critics held a protest action in Izmir, criticizing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for calling the monument to Armenian-Turkish friendship “monstrous”. “Erdogan should take back his words and apologize, otherwise disrespectful attitude towards art and freedom of speech will not remain without response,” the intellectuals said in a statement,” they said in a statement.