At a cultural heritage event in Istanbul, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke about the projects toward the renovation of Armenian churches in Turkey.

Erdoğan stated that 250 historical and spiritual buildings were renovated in the country ever since his political force, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is in power, reported Diken news website of Turkey.

“For example, I would like to emphasize that the [Jewish] synagogue of Edirne [town], the Armenian Protestant and Catholic churches of Diyarbakır [town] were renovated,” said the Turkish president. “Our forebears used to do that; and now, we do the same.”

The said Armenian churches in Diyarbakır, however, are in ruins. Though they were somewhat renovated, Turkish troops had targeted Armenian churches during their fight against the Kurds, and they had turned them into ruins.