Turkey aims to reap some benefits from organizing September 19 liturgy at St. Cross church in Akhtamar, a historian Rafik Tadevosyan believes.

“First of all, Turkey aims to demonstrate normalization of ties with Armenia to U.S., as well as improve chances to join EU,” he told a news conference in Yerevan.

“September 12, the day of the Exaltation of the Cross was announced as the initial date for liturgy. Why did Turkey postpone is till September 19, dictating own terms?”

“Armenians must be able to visit the island the day they wish, and not one pointed out by Turkey,” the historian emphasized.