Current location:health >>
EU condemns Turkish decision to convert Hagia Sophia back to mosque
health35144People have gathered around
IntroductionEU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell speaks during a press ...
EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell speaks during a press conference after a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on July 13, 2020. Foreign ministers of the European Union on Monday condemned the Turkish decision to convert Istanbul's iconic Hagia Sophia back to a mosque, saying that "will inevitably fuel mistrust, promote renewed divisions between religious communities and undermine efforts at dialogue and cooperation." (European Union/Handout via Xinhua)
BRUSSELS, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of the European Union on Monday condemned the Turkish decision to convert Istanbul's iconic Hagia Sophia back to a mosque, saying that "will inevitably fuel mistrust, promote renewed divisions between religious communities and undermine efforts at dialogue and cooperation."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday denounced rising criticism over Ankara's intention to convert the Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque, claiming that "The accusations against our country on the Hagia Sophia mean a direct attack on our sovereignty rights."
"We will continue to protect the rights of Muslims, the dominant faith in our country, and those of other religions," Erdogan said Friday in Istanbul.
Monday's meeting was the first physical get-together of EU foreign ministers since the coronavirus pandemic. Turkey topped the agenda of the 27-member bloc, which reached "a consensus among member states that EU-Turkey relations were currently under strain because of worrying developments affecting the EU's interests."
The EU foreign ministers also called for what they say is "illegal" and "unilateral" drilling by Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean to stop and asked Turkey to contribute actively to a political solution in Libya and to respect the commitments it had taken, including the UN arms embargo.
Hagia Sophia is an iconic Byzantine church built in the 5th century. Throughout the centuries, the former Greek Orthodox Christian church had also served as a Roman Catholic cathedral and an Ottoman mosque as the city changed rulers. Since 1935, the 1,500-year-old Hagia Sophia has been open as a museum. It has been recognized by UNESCO as a monument of world cultural heritage since 1985.
On Friday, the Turkish State Council reached a verdict on the fate of the monument and Erdogan announced that the first Muslim prayer at the site will be held on July 24.
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Erdogan discussed in a phone conversation developments in Syria and Libya, as well as the fate of Hagia Sophia, the Kremlin said.
The United States said on Friday that it was "disappointed" by the Turkish government's decision of changing the Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“World Wanderer news portal”。http://palau.prpsystems.net/article-51d199864.html
Related articles
Young Boys seals 6th Swiss soccer league title in 7 years after rallying from firing coach Wicky
healthGENEVA (AP) — Young Boys sealed its sixth Swiss league title in seven years by winning at Servette 1 ...
【health】
Read moreOutrage as pro
healthPro-Palestinian demonstrators have sparked outrage after staging a protest near the grounds of Ausch ...
【health】
Read moreAuditors can't locate former St. Louis circuit attorney to complete state audit
healthST. LOUIS (AP) — A state examination of the office that handles criminal prosecutions in St. Louis i ...
【health】
Read more
Popular articles
- What's next for Iran after death of its president in crash?
- REVEALED: Michelin Guide names its first
- Human remains were found at a former Hitler base, but decay prevents determining the cause of death
- Former Starbucks CEO Schultz says company needs to refocus on coffee as sales struggle
- Medics remove 150 MAGGOTS from a woman's mouth after dental procedure left her with rotting tissue
- North Dakota state rep found guilty of misdemeanor charge tied to budget votes and building
Latest articles
Philippines blames China for loss of giant clams in disputed shoal and urges environmental inquiry
What we learned from local votes ahead of looming UK general election
Turkey says it has carried out new airstrikes against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq
REVEALED: Michelin Guide names its first
Kevin Pillar gets 1,000th career hit in Angels' win at Texas
Macron sets Ukraine war as top priority as China's Xi Jinping arrives in France
LINKS
- Bob Avellini, quarterback who teamed with Walter Payton to lead Bears to 1977 playoffs, dies at 70
- Brazilians wait on their roofs to be rescued by the military as death toll rises to 57 in record
- Chennai Super Kings end 5
- Rays starter Ryan Pepiot departs with leg bruise after getting hit by 107.5 mph line drive
- Home and Away star James Stewart's real
- Kentucky Derby: What it's like at Churchill Downs for 150th Run for the Roses
- Mexican police: Thieves killed Australian and American surfers to steal truck
- Verona boosts survival chances with 2
- Mexico recovers bodies likely those of missing surfers
- Disney documentary stars' sick jibe at cancer