The looted Armenian monastery of Makaravank (Magaravank) in Turkish-occupied Northern Cyprus, according to Azg Daily, will be returned to the Armenian community.

Magaravank (from www.sarafyan.com)

Turkish Cypriot newspaper YENIDUZEN reported last year (17 April 2005) that the monastery was leased to Turkish businessman Dervis Sonmeazler for 49 years. The monastery was supposed to function as a 50 bed capacity hotel (according to a 1998 article from Kibris). The recent annulment of the agreement, according to Azg, was made by the Department of Historic Monuments and Museums of Northern Cyprus.

Makaravank, which originally started as a Coptic Orthodox church, was founded in the 5th century.

The Armenian Genocide Memorial in occupied Cyprus desecrated by local Turks (from Peter Balakian's visit to Cyprus)

St. Mother God (Astvatsatsin) Armenian church in Turkish-occupied Cyprus is also looted and desecrated. The Armenian Genocide Memorial has also been desecrated by the Turks: they have “converted” it into a satellite dish holder.