‘We Never Knew Enmity’: Turkey’s Culture Minister on Armenian Relations

All Armenians planning to attend the Sept. 19 service at Van’s Holy Cross (Surb Khach) Church will be welcomed with open arms, Turkey’s Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay said. Although some Armenians are suspicious of Turkey’s intentions, the minister expresses Turkey’s goodwill toward all Armenians, adding that the service will bring Turks and Armenians closer together, reports the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review.

“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,” Günay recently told the Hürriyet.

“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 Holy Cross, unfortunately, he said he will be unable to attend due to a busy schedule.