During an EU-funded media tour in Diyarbakir, Ohannes Gafur Ohanyan of the Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation expressed strong support for the normalization of relations between Türkiye and Armenia. he suggested that increased contact could lead to the reopening of the land border,which has remained shut since 1993.
Breaking the 1993 border deadlock
The diplomatic rapprochement between Ankara and Yerevan has been a slow-moving endeavor since its official launch in late 2021. As the report notes, the appointment of special envoys—retired Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kilic and Armenian Deputy Speaker Ruben Rubinyan—marked a significant step toward resolving decades of tension. while the border has been shut since 1993, recent technical and bureaucratic efforts by Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry suggest that preparations for direct trade are already complete.. This diplomatic push follows years of frozen relations, aiming to transform the regional landscape through improved transport and economic cooperation.
A community of 60 in Diyarbakir's Sur district
The Armenian presence in Diyarbakir remains small but culturally significant, with Ohanyan estimating the local community numbers between 60 and 65 people. This group centers its social and religious life around the Surp Giragos Armenian Church, an 800-year-old structure located in the historic Sur district. The church serves as a major landmark, attracting visitors from the Armenian diaspora in Europe and the United States, as well as travelers from Armenia itself. Because there is no permanent resident clergyman, the community relies on approximately eight to 10 services held annually during major religious holidays.
From the Ani Bridge to UN-level talks
Diplomatic momentum has recently shifted toward physical and political symbols of connection. In May, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz visited Armenia to sign a memorandum regarding the joint restoration of the historic Ani Bridge, a medieval structure that spans the border. Furthermore, the report highlights that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed strengthening regional transport links and economic ties during their meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York last month. These high-level discussions suggest a growing appetite for stability among the leadership of both nations.
The uncertain future of the Surp Sarkis ruins
Despite the progress made at Surp Giragos, which was restored following damage from 2015 PKK clshes, other sites remain in precarious condition. The Surp Giragos restoration was a massive undertaking involving the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change and the General Directorate of Foundations. However, the Surp Sarkis church in the Alipasa neighbourhood, a 500-year-old building, has been in ruins for nearly a century and was further damaged by the February 2023 earthquakes. While Ohanyan claims that structural work on the main building is largely complete, several questions remain: Will a stable congregation ever return to Alipasa, and can the foundation sustain these historic sites witout a permanent local population? Additionally, the source does not clarify if the restoration of Surp Sarkis will receive the same level of state support as the Surp Giragos project.
The role of EU-funded media engagement
The recent visit to the Surp Giragos Armenian Church was part of a broader EU-funded media tour designed to support normalization. By bringing seven Turkish and seven Armenian journalists together in Diyarbakir, the initiative sought to foster direct dialogue between the two nations' media landscapes. Ohanyan expressed hope that such events would increase, allowing the friendship between Türkiye and Armenia to grow stronger through increased cultural and social contact.
Comments 0