Surb Khach service a chance for détente, says Turkish minister

The forthcoming mass at Surb Khach (Saint Cross) in Van represents the continuing effort to achieve reconciliation between Turks and Armenians, according to Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay.

“The Turkish-Armenian Patriarchate introduced the idea of holding mass in the church once a year and we accepted. This brings us one step closer [to rapprochement] and will be followed by others,” Gunay recently told the Hurriyet Daily News.

“I grew up with Armenians, my best friend is Armenian. We never knew enmity. Hrant [Dink] expressed it so well when he said, ‘We all want to be buried deep in these lands.’ I feel these words deep in my heart. Greek, Turkish or Armenian, we are all children of these lands,” he said.

While the minister is excited about the many Armenians that will come to the Sept. 19 mass at the Surb Khach in the eastern Turkish province, he said he would be unfortunately unable to attend due to a busy schedule.

Though many in the community are suspicious about Turkey’s intentions and are unhappy services will be permitted there only once per year, according to the source, thousands of Armenians from Armenia itself, Turkey and the diaspora are expected to descend on the church on Akdamar Island.

“It is our pleasure to host everyone who comes here,” Gunay said, adding that nationalists and politicians in both countries were kindling the continuing tension and enmity. “If they just stepped aside, people with common sense in both countries would find a way to establish dialogue.”