Van governor does not expect any problems occurrence during tomorrow's
divine service
2010-09-18 14:27:00
ArmInfo. Van Governor Munir Karaloglu said preparations were complete
for the religious gathering, as Today's Zaman reported.
"We have our technical preparations complete. In terms of security,
our city's police will be sufficient. We will have a helicopter to
observe the island from the air. The church on the island is very
small, so a lot of people will follow the service from live television
on the island. Our press tent will serve journalists who come to the
city to cover the event," Van's popular governor told Today's Zaman.
On Friday, the press center at the governor's office was busy with
foreign and domestic journalists who were receiving accreditation for
the Sept. 19 event. The staff was helpful and quick. So far 118
Turkish and 27 foreign members of press had been accredited. The
governor's office also said the city's hotels and hostels were full
and that if there were more visitors, the people of Van were ready to
host them in their homes. "Our goal is to serve people. We want our
visitors to be happy. When you look at the old city of Van, you see
that a mosque, a church and a synagogue existed not far from each
other. This religious service is an opportunity to show our
hospitality and our tolerance," Karaloglu said, while adding that he
felt lucky to be a governor at this historic time. 'Cross will be
erected after ceremony' There had been problems surrounding erecting a
100-kilogram cross on top of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on
Akdamar Island, but the problem was mostly solved by temporarily
placing the cross on a wooden base. Turkish officials said there were
difficulties in erecting the cross on the steeple in time for the
historic service, leading to the temporary solution. Armenian
Patriarchate clergymen from Istanbul will decide where to display the
cross -- inside or outside of the church -- until it is erected on the
church after the service and when preparations are complete.
To recall, earlier Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, had
agreed to send two senior clerics to the church for the service, but
at present he recalled his decision after refusal of the Turkish
authorities to set a cross at the top of the church.
From: A. Papazian
divine service
2010-09-18 14:27:00
ArmInfo. Van Governor Munir Karaloglu said preparations were complete
for the religious gathering, as Today's Zaman reported.
"We have our technical preparations complete. In terms of security,
our city's police will be sufficient. We will have a helicopter to
observe the island from the air. The church on the island is very
small, so a lot of people will follow the service from live television
on the island. Our press tent will serve journalists who come to the
city to cover the event," Van's popular governor told Today's Zaman.
On Friday, the press center at the governor's office was busy with
foreign and domestic journalists who were receiving accreditation for
the Sept. 19 event. The staff was helpful and quick. So far 118
Turkish and 27 foreign members of press had been accredited. The
governor's office also said the city's hotels and hostels were full
and that if there were more visitors, the people of Van were ready to
host them in their homes. "Our goal is to serve people. We want our
visitors to be happy. When you look at the old city of Van, you see
that a mosque, a church and a synagogue existed not far from each
other. This religious service is an opportunity to show our
hospitality and our tolerance," Karaloglu said, while adding that he
felt lucky to be a governor at this historic time. 'Cross will be
erected after ceremony' There had been problems surrounding erecting a
100-kilogram cross on top of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on
Akdamar Island, but the problem was mostly solved by temporarily
placing the cross on a wooden base. Turkish officials said there were
difficulties in erecting the cross on the steeple in time for the
historic service, leading to the temporary solution. Armenian
Patriarchate clergymen from Istanbul will decide where to display the
cross -- inside or outside of the church -- until it is erected on the
church after the service and when preparations are complete.
To recall, earlier Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, had
agreed to send two senior clerics to the church for the service, but
at present he recalled his decision after refusal of the Turkish
authorities to set a cross at the top of the church.
From: A. Papazian