Russian Satellite News Agency, Ankara, July 13-Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu stated on July 13 that after the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, Turkey will continue to use Hagia Sophia in Istanbul as a UNESCO World heritage.
The Turkish Administrative Court ruled on July 10 to abolish the 1934 decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a museum.
President Erdogan immediately announced that he had signed a decree to convert the cathedral into a mosque and began to worship Muslims there.
The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, previously stated that he deeply regrets Turkey's decision to change the status quo of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, and that the decision was passed without "prior dialogue."
Cavusoglu said in a TRT TV program: "We firmly oppose remarks that violate Turkey's sovereignty.
It is inappropriate to argue on this issue. We respect those who wish to protect the church as a world heritage.
However, it was used as a mosque many years ago without any damage. We must protect the legacy left by our ancestors.
Therefore, some of the statements of the UNESCO surprised us. "
Hagia Sophia was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I and was put into use on December 27, 537 AD.
For more than a thousand years, the church has been the largest Christian church in the world.
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