Armenian church to be restored in MalatyaOctober 30, 2009 - 13:15 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A Malatya foundation established to build mosques has assumed the financial costs of the restoration of a historic Armenian church located in the neighborhood where assassinated Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was born, Today's Zaman reported.The head of the Carmuzu Tepebasi Mosque Building and Preservation Foundation, Latif Yildirim, said they started planning the project to help restore the Armenian Tashoron Church in 2008 and wrote letters to the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as well as Armenian businessmen to win their support. They also spoke with the Armenian Patriarchate in March, he said. Money had been allocated for the restoration by the Culture and Tourism Ministry in 2009; however, due to budgetary problems, the foundation decided to take on the costs of the restoration. While noting that their project, which they call a "project of peace," is a model of good relations between different faiths, Yildirim said, "We do not think we will experience financial problems." Armenian Archbishop Aram Atesyan said the church is a cultural treasure and added, "We will be very happy if such a project is carried out." He also noted that there are some other churches in need of restoration and highlighted that this must also be done. The muhtar (local official) of the neighborhood in which the church is situated, Mustafa Sahin, said such a project would contribute to peace and stressed, "Whether used as a place of worship or as a museum, the historic church will contribute to unity and solidarity in the area as well as to tourism." 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 | Ucom Celebrates Telecommunication Day May 17 commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on May 17, 1865. Armenian, Azerbaijani heads of parliament meet in Switzerland President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Border residents overnight on highway to protest Armenia’s Residents of Kirants continue to express outrage over the government’s decision to cede land to Azerbaijan. Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. |