President: Decision to convert Hagia Sophia to mosque a provocation to civilised world

Τhe conversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque is another provocation to the civilised world and the international bodies that represent it, President, Nicos Anastasiades, has said on Twitter.

“The Turkish move constitutes a historic distortion and a desecration of a world heritage monument which has a special value for Christians all over the world,” he added.

Η μετατροπή της #ΑγίαςΣοφίας σε τζαμί, είμαι μία ακόμη πρόκληση για το σύνολο του πολιτισμένου κόσμου και των διεθνών οργάνων που τον εκπροσωπούν. Συνιστά ιστορική εκτροπή και βεβήλωση ενός μνημείου παγκόσμιας κληρονομιάς με ιδιαίτερη αξία για τους όπου γης χριστιανούς. pic.twitter.com/Fh6zHyTAGJ

— Nicos Anastasiades (@AnastasiadesCY) July 10, 2020

Furthermore, the Presidency of the Republic issued a statement condemning the conversion of the Hagia Sophia cathedral into a mosque, noting that it will report the new Turkish provocation in all international fora.

“For centuries Hagia Sophia has been a symbol of Christianity where East meets the West, as well as an integral part of the civilization of the whole world,” the Presidency said.

The decision to convert it to a mosque “constitutes a provocation against the world’s cultural heritage and a violation of every rule of the international law, the values and principles of the UN and UNESCO and a violation of the international treaties for the preservation of such monuments.”

(CNA)