The Governor of Van (city in Turkey) Munir Karaoglu intends to address Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism with a request to authorize yearly services in Surb Khach church on Akhtamar Island, Turkish Taraf daily reads.

According to him, church is a museum and thus cannot be open for services just as Sofia Cathedral in Istanbul. “However, meeting the request of Armenian Community, it is possible to allow it once a year,” he underlined. Governor said that he supports authorities’ policy on normalization of relations with Armenia, adding that border opening will be mostly advantageous to Van.

The Surb Khach church was restored in 2007 and reopened on March 29.