Greece intends to replenish the tools of its military in gentle of the aggravation of relations with Turkey. The matter considerations the acquisition of 18 Dassault Rafale multirole fighters from France, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated on Saturday, September 12. Athens additionally desires to accumulate helicopters and 4 new frigates. And 4 extra vessels of this kind, produced in Germany, will bear modernization. In addition, 15,000 new recruits can be added to the ranks of the Greek Armed Forces inside 5 years.
French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parley welcomed Athens’ intention. This is the primary buy of Dassault Rafale fighters by a European state.
Athens doesn’t exclude the involvement of the International Court of Justice
Turkey’s conduct “threatens” Europe’s jap borders and “undermines” safety within the area, Mitsotakis stated. Athens is able to resolve its variations with Ankara peacefully, he careworn. However, the Greek Prime Minister allowed the involvement of the International Court of Justice if the events fail to come back to a typical place.
In flip, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan known as on the Greek authorities to chorus from “misguided actions.” The Turkish chief additionally warned towards a “quarrel” with Turkey, French President Emmanuel Macron, who on September 10 urged Ankara to not cross the “crimson strains” within the battle with Athens.
Claims of Turkey and Greece for attainable deposits within the Mediterranean Sea
The battle between Turkey and Greece has not abated for a number of weeks, flaring up over disputed areas within the east of the Mediterranean Sea. Both states have made claims on the territory with attainable oil and gasoline fields. The European Union calls on Turkey to cease exploration drilling within the disputed areas and threatens with sanctions. However, Ankara refuses to make concessions.
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Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: Orthodox church, museum, mosque
Hagia Sophia grew to become a mosque
The Turkish State Council allowed the usage of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (Hagia Sophia) as a mosque. On July 10, the courtroom overturned the 1934 decree of the Turkish authorities granting the standing of a museum to the cathedral. On July 24, the primary Friday prayer in 86 years was held right here. It was attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and 1000’s of believers.
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: Orthodox church, museum, mosque
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Hagia Sophia just isn’t solely an emblem of Istanbul, but additionally the preferred vacationer attraction in Turkey. The temple with an enormous dome 55 meters excessive, 4 minarets and an inside adorned with historic frescoes and mosaics attracts tens of millions of vacationers yearly. Since 1985, Hagia Sophia has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: Orthodox church, museum, mosque
Monument of Byzantine structure
In 532, Emperor Justinian ordered the development of the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. 10,000 staff had been concerned in its development. 15 years later, the utterly unfinished constructing of the cathedral was consecrated. For over a thousand years, it was the biggest temple within the Christian world.
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: Orthodox church, museum, mosque
Cathedral the place the emperors of Byzantium had been topped
Almost 150 tons of gold was donated by Emperor Justinian for the development of the Hagia Sophia. But the imperfect construction of the constructing wanted to be improved. The dome was initially designed with errors and collapsed throughout the earthquake. From the center of the seventh century, Byzantine emperors had been topped within the Cathedral of St. Sophia.
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: Orthodox church, museum, mosque
How the cathedral grew to become a mosque
Byzantine rule in Constantinople led to 1453. The metropolis was conquered by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II. He ordered that the Hagia Sophia grew to become a mosque. 4 minarets had been added to the constructing. The cross was changed by a crescent, the bells and altar had been dismantled or destroyed, the mosaics and frescoes had been plastered over.
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: Orthodox church, museum, mosque
The mosque was changed into a museum
After the autumn of the Ottoman Empire, the founding father of the trendy Turkish state, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, turned Hagia Sophia right into a museum in 1934, known as the Hagia Sophia Museum. Restoration work has begun within the constructing. Frescoes and mosaics, beforehand coated with plaster, had been rediscovered. Much care has been taken to not injury the Muslim symbols within the constructing.
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: Orthodox church, museum, mosque
Byzantine icons
During the restoration work on the partitions contained in the cathedral, an opulent 14th century Byzantine mosaic was revealed, plastered over when the cathedral was changed into a mosque. The mosaic has not been utterly preserved, however the faces are nonetheless clearly seen. In the center, Christ is depicted because the ruler of the world. On the left is the Virgin Mary, on the fitting is John the Baptist.
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: Orthodox church, museum, mosque
Symbols of Islam and Christianity
The proven fact that this constructing is about two main world religions – Islam and Christianity, is straight away clear to any customer. Next to the picture of the Virgin Mary with Jesus Christ are sacred Muslim quotes from the Koran.
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: Orthodox church, museum, mosque
Dialogue of cultures and religions
The head of the Constantinople Orthodox Church, Patriarch Bartholomew, strongly opposed the transformation of Hagia Sophia right into a mosque. Since 1934, the cathedral has been a museum and has served as a spot and image of dialogue and peaceable coexistence of peoples and cultures.
