Georgian Orthodox Church Objects to Restoration Agreement with Turkey

The Georgian Orthodox Church is pressuring the Georgian government not to approve a deal with the Turkish government to repair four Georgian Orthodox religious monuments in Turkey in return for the rebuilding or restoration of historic mosques in Georgia, saying that it is unfair that the mosques should go under Muslim ownership whilst the churches remain the property of the Turkish government. President Mekhail Saakashvili supports the agreement, saying that it is better for the monuments to be preserved than that nothing be done and they become completely ruined. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğl is due to visit Georgia later this week. More here.