Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey seeks to speed up the process that will put the Armenian medieval town of Ani on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Ermenihaber reports Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Omer Celik as saying.
The capital of the Armenian Kingdom of Bagratides (10th-11th centuries) that was called the "city of a thousand and one churches" was included in the temporary list of the UNESCO World Heritage in 2012. According to the source, they work to include the ruins of the town into the permanent list. Celik said Turkey makes a point of preserving the cultural heritage to transfer it to the coming generations. As for the restoration activities in Ani, he said the Council of International Experts and Teaching Staff of the Middle East Technical University would undertake these activities.
According to the minister, Armenian specialists will also be involved in restoration of "Surb Prkich" and "Mren" churches. It is anticipated that a total of 21 cultural monuments located in Armenia will be put on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
As a result of reduction of the underground waters under the town of Ani, 823 new underground buildings were discovered. These are catacombs, hermit cells, tunnels, underground water canals and other facilities. Many experts say Ankara's attempts to include Ani into the UNESCO World Heritage List fit into Turkey's policy of imitating reconciliation with Armenia ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.