EUROPEAN UNION WILL FUND BUILDING OF BOAT TO CARRY TOURISTS TO AKHTAMAR ISLAND

According to the Turkish Daily News, a boat that has partially been funded by the European Union will soon begin ferrying tourists across Lake Van to the island of Akhtamar.

It appears that indeed the recent renovations of the Holy Cross Church there and its much heralded "reopening" as a cultural museum was intended to serve as a tourist magnet for the region and a source of income rather than any goodwill gesture on the part of Turkey.

Hikmet Deniz, manager of the boat project and general director of Grand Deniz Tourism hopes that the boat will, "carry all domestic and foreign tourists, particularly Armenians, to the island."

We believe Armenians should be organizing tours of their own to flood the site and in essence make all understand who the real owners and guardians of Akhtamar are. Light candles!!! Recite prayers!!!! Sing songs!!!!! Let the Armenian language once again reverberate within its hallowed stone walls!!!!