ArmRadio -- A number of Armenian intellectuals from the History Institute of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences have issued a statement today, according to which Turkey will demand an expensive reimbursement from the Armenian side in exchange for the conduct of the liturgy at St. Cross Church of Akhtamar. Director of the History Institute Ashot Melkonyan is confident that there is only one way out of this slippery situation – we should not support the Turkish show by visiting Akhtamar on that day.

The Turkish side is trying to present the demonstration of the cross to the public and the conduct of the liturgy at St. Cross Church as an expression of goodwill towards Armenia and the Armenian people. The Turkish side also wishes to involve 5-6 thousand people in the event. Rumors say the Armenian-Turkish border is going to be opened for three days. Armenian historians are assured, however, that Turkey thus wants to reach certain objectives, which are mostly anti-Armenian.

“We have no desire to participate in the recurrent Turkish show. This is true mockery. It would take half an hour to install the cross on the dome. I think there can be no second opinion here,” said Ashot Melkonyan, adding that “we are the masters of our Akhtamar and we will have a lot of opportunists to conduct liturgies there, and we should not do it under the Turkish flag waving and the face of Mustafa Kemal there.”

Director of the Oriental Studies Institute Ruben Safrastyan says the show organized by Turkey is a simple deceit. According to him, the decision of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to boycott the mass at St. Cross has made many citizens refuse from the idea of leaving for Van.

“I think the majority of Armenians say ‘no’ to this show. We should understand that the Shariat prohibits renovating a Christian Church and installing a cross on it. Besides, the political situation in Turkey should be taken account of. 75% of the Turkish citizens are active Muslims, and the government will not go against them. Actually, they are deceiving,” he said.

Armenian historians are confident that Tukrey is making that step to resist the anti-Turkish wave expected to raise on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. According to the statement, Turkey had to do this under the Lausanne Treaty of 1923. The statements calls on every Armenian, who respects his national and religious dignity, to refrain from visiting Akhtamar on that day to avoid becoming a tool in the hands of the foreigners in this dirty and anti-Armenian game.