Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian MFA has strongly condemned the policy of consistent destruction and misappropriation of Armenian cultural heritage by the Turkish authorities that gained new momentum, and urged Turkey to strictly adhere to its obligations under the international agreements.

The ministry’s Spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan has made this statement, commenting on the Turkish media reports about the sale of Armenian churches in Turkey.

“We are familiar with the reports in Turkish media about the sale of Armenian churches in Turkey. In particular, the Armenian Catholic Church in Sebtash district of Bursa was put up for sale for 6 million Turkish liras, while another Armenian church in Bursa was put for sale for 6.3 million Turkish liras. Moreover, the Armenian St. Toros Church in the western Turkish province of Kutahya was destroyed.

Calls on cooperation for regional peace and stability by a state which demonstrates such attitude towards historical-cultural monuments at least cannot be credible,” said Naghdalyan.

Commenting on Turkish FM Mevlut Cavusoglu’s remark that “Armenia should learn its lesson”, Anna Naghdalyan said:

“No one has the right to speak disrespectfully with the language of threat and give lessons of history to the nation who survived genocide.

Turkey’s authorities must clearly realize that a relevant environment of trust is needed for a dialogue, and the destruction of the Armenian historical-cultural heritage definitely does not contribute to the establishment of such an environment.”