ANI, Turkey—Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism is working towards including the historical city of Ani in the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites, Hye Tert reports.
Minister Omer Celik has described the measure as an attempt to take the ancient site under protection.
Historically known as the city with “one thousand and one churches” or “forty doors,” Ani was registered in the candidate list in 2012. Turkish authorities are now reportedly seeking to declare it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The minister is reported as saying that he is committed to the preservation and protection of cultural and human heritage monuments.
Active excavations, redevelopment, and renovation activities in the historical city continue under the Ministry’s oversight.
“We have always felt proud with the amazing, big and historical heritage of Ani. We want to do what is appropriate to us: to endow that heritage to mankind and preserve it for future generations. Turkey is now making steps towards becoming a leading country. So we do not want to have gaps in that race,” Celik said.
Source: Asbarez
