Turkey Going to Return Magaravank Monastery in North Cyprus to ArmeniansFebruary 21, 2006 - 17:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey is going to return Magaravank monastery in occupied northern Cyprus to Armenians. The monastery founded in 5th century was leased for 49 years by Turkish businessman Dervish Ulus Syonmezler in 1997. The businessman said, "The Department of Historic Monuments and Museums of Northern Cyprus has annulled the agreement. I think Magaravank was included in the list of mansions awaiting return to southern Cyprus. For that reason the authorities of the Turkish sector annulled the agreement signed for 49 years. I certainly will sue them. But even if I win, I doubt they will hand the mansion over to me. Apparently the Turkish authorities of Northern Cyprus have decided to return the mansion to its true owners - the Cypriot Armenians," Istanbul-based Armenian weekly Agos informs. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |