During the visit of the Catholicos-Patriarch in Germany, the means of mass media spread the information that the Georgian government intends to give its consent for the construction of the so-called mosque of Azizeya in Batumi and restoration of the mosque of Ahmed in the Akhaltsikhe district.

We should recall, that the negotiations on this issues, going between the governments of Turkey and Georgia, are continued for over two years, while also violating on the legislation of Georgia (Constitutional Treaty), since the Patriarchate of Georgia, who is the owner of all Georgian churches and monasteries, is not taken and does not take part in these negotiations . Despite this, we always had a principle, but at the same time constructive opinions on this issue. Our position was expressed in a letter of 2011 year of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia to the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Unfortunately, the answer to this letter has not yet been received.

We would like to note once again, that the government's desire to build a new mosque in Batumi, which they presented as a restoration of the old mosque, is very problematic. There is no justification for the position that it is done as if for the sake of Ishkhani and Oshki churches, because according to international law, the protection of world cultural and natural heritage is the responsibility of the Turkish state. On this basis, the Georgian government had a possibility to apply to UNESCO on this issues few years ago (as we have repeatedly reminded), and the question now would not be a subject of negotiations.

Despite this, we proposed a solution to the issue, which would make it possible to translate these talks in a mutually beneficial direction. Because of this, as opposed to the hundreds of mosques in Georgia, namely in Adjara, we proposed the restoration and opening of only two churches in the Tao and Lazeti (historical provinces of Georgia at the territory of modern Turkey) and the inclusion of the Patriarchate of Georgia in the negotiations.

We want to make one more step, and at this stage we do not raise the question of opening the church of Khakhuli (Tao region) for the parishioners, and put only the question of the restoration and opening in the ancient Georgian Diocese Ardasheni (Lazeti region) of a small basilica by means of the Patriarchate itself (we would like to note, that in this region there are a lot of larger and more significant Georgian churches) and the inclusion of the Patriarchate in the negotiations. If for some reasons this proposal is not acceptable to the Turkish side, then it is not acceptable for us to build a symbol of the difficult period in our history - the mosque of Azizeya under the pretext of saving the Oshki and Ishkhani.

We would like to emphasize the fact that such actions may artificially provoke the tensions between Muslims and Christians. Muslims, despite their ethnic origin, as well as representatives of other religions, never oppressed in Georgia, on the contrary, they always feel good in Georgia and that's why so many Muslims gave their lives in defense of Georgia. This is so even today, aided by tolerant nature of the Christian Georgians.

We would like to hope, that the governments of Turkey and Georgia will consider our proposal and do not take such steps that may contribute to a rise of tensions in our country, and between our two countries.

February 9, 2012.