ISTANBUL (AA) - Armenian Culture Ministry has awarded the Turkish writer Yasar Kemal with the Grigor Narekatsi Medal. A committee, including the representative of Armenian Culture Ministry Seyranuhi Geghamyan, an Armenian Deputy Aragats Akhoyan and the representatives of Western Armenian Council Vahan Melikian and Sevag Ardzruni, arrived in Turkey so as to present the medal to the writer. The representative of Armenien Culture Ministry Seyranuhi Geghamyan made a statement and said, "We are here to convey Armenian people's feelings of appreciation to Kemal showing individual chivalry as opposing to the destruction of an Armenian church in Akdamar Island situated on Lake Van." On the other hand, writer Yasar Kemal stated, "I am honored by the Grigor Narekatsi medal. Grigor Narekatsi, whose poesy is as important as his holy personalty, is also my countryman. I thank the Armenian Culture Ministry which builds a friendly bridge in the name of Saint Grigor Narekatsi. Our common wish is a world where hostility becomes friendship and anger becomes love." The 'Grigor Narekatsi' Medal receives its name from a monk, poet and philosopher Grigor who lived between 951-1003. Saint Grigor is said to have lived mostly in eastern province Van in Turkey.
