SAMVEL KARAPETYAN: THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT DOES NOT NEED EARTHQUAKES TO DEMOLISH THE ARMENIAN CULTURAL TRACE
Alisa Gevorgyan
"Radiolur"
02.11.2011 17:17
Did Armenian monuments of Turkey suffer as a result of the
earthquake in Van? Are the monuments on the territory of Armenia
earthquake-resistant? How many of the churches and monuments destroyed
as a result of the earthquake in Spitak have been restored?
Two thousand out of the 8 thousand monuments in Armenia were damaged,
150 were completely destroyed as a result of the earthquake of 1988.
"Only three churches have been restored twenty-three years after the
disaster," Head of the Department on Restoration of Historical and
Cultural Monuments of the Ministry of Culture Dorvard Arushanyan
told a press conference today. The St. Amenaprkich (Holy Saviour)
Church of Gyumri will also be reconstructed soon.
As for the earthquake in Van, the Armenian monuments could not have
escaped its influence. Expert of monuments Samvel Karapetyan can only
guess which of the churches could have been damaged as a result of
the quake.
What can the Armenian side undertake to find out the real damage
caused to the Armenian monuments? According to Samvel Karapetyan,
it will become possible if the Ministry of Culture decides to send
an expert group to Turkey to carry out research works on the site.
In general, Samvel Karapetyan says, earthquakes are not the major
factor causing the destruction of Armenian monuments in Turkey.
"The Turkish government does not need earthquakes to demolish the
Armenian cultural trace, he said.
Last year the Turkish Ministry of Culture promised to reconstruct
Varagavank. "Just like in case of Akhtamar, they will organize a
show before the world, but let them do it if it will help to save
Varagavabk," Samvel Karapetyan said.
Alisa Gevorgyan
"Radiolur"
02.11.2011 17:17
Did Armenian monuments of Turkey suffer as a result of the
earthquake in Van? Are the monuments on the territory of Armenia
earthquake-resistant? How many of the churches and monuments destroyed
as a result of the earthquake in Spitak have been restored?
Two thousand out of the 8 thousand monuments in Armenia were damaged,
150 were completely destroyed as a result of the earthquake of 1988.
"Only three churches have been restored twenty-three years after the
disaster," Head of the Department on Restoration of Historical and
Cultural Monuments of the Ministry of Culture Dorvard Arushanyan
told a press conference today. The St. Amenaprkich (Holy Saviour)
Church of Gyumri will also be reconstructed soon.
As for the earthquake in Van, the Armenian monuments could not have
escaped its influence. Expert of monuments Samvel Karapetyan can only
guess which of the churches could have been damaged as a result of
the quake.
What can the Armenian side undertake to find out the real damage
caused to the Armenian monuments? According to Samvel Karapetyan,
it will become possible if the Ministry of Culture decides to send
an expert group to Turkey to carry out research works on the site.
In general, Samvel Karapetyan says, earthquakes are not the major
factor causing the destruction of Armenian monuments in Turkey.
"The Turkish government does not need earthquakes to demolish the
Armenian cultural trace, he said.
Last year the Turkish Ministry of Culture promised to reconstruct
Varagavank. "Just like in case of Akhtamar, they will organize a
show before the world, but let them do it if it will help to save
Varagavabk," Samvel Karapetyan said.