‘Will Turkey pay damages to the Swiss company for Hagia Sophia?’

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Ankara MP Filiz Kerestecioğlu has submitted a Parliamentary question about the allegations that Turkey will pay damages to the SICPA, a Switzerland-based company, after Hagia Sophia is handed over to the Presidency of Religious Affairs and opened to worship.

In her Parliamentary question addressed to Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Kerestecioğlu has noted that the company, bidding 3.9 billion US dollars, won the tender for operating Turkey's 54 museums and archeological sites for nine years in 2018.

'400 million lira earned from entrance fees a year'

Reminding Minister Ersoy that "the Islamist circles targeted the government when the tender was lodged because the financiers of the company were of Jewish origin," Kerestecioğlu has said:

"It is then understood that Cavidan Gülşen Karanis Ekşioğlu, an executive in the companies of businessperson Cüneyd Zapsu, a former adviser to Erdoğan, applied to the Competition Authority to purchase the firm SICPA Turkey, which the SICPA established in Turkey."

Underlining that the Swiss company now has the right to operate Hagia Sophia for seven more years as per its contract, Filiz Kerestecioğlu has noted that "the annual revenue obtained from the entrance fees of Hagia Sophia museum is known to be 400 million lira."

Within this context, Kerestecioğlu has raised concerns that "while citizens are having more and more financial difficulties with each passing day, the taxes paid by them are used to pay astronomic damages and the guarantees of build-operate-transfer projects."

"The state paid 389 million euro (2.6 billion lira) to the TAV Airports Holding, which holds the operating rights of İstanbul Atatürk Airport that was closed to commercial flights in 2019," the MP has protested.

'The restoration of Hagia Sophia'

Further in her statement, HDP MP Kerestecioğlu has also referred to the change of status of Hagia Sophia and its need for restoration:

"That the status of Hagia Sophia Museum, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, was changed without consultation with the UNESCO, has once again brought up the necessary protective measures to be taken for Hagia Sophia, being restored for years and in need of comprehensive restoration."

"Listed among UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Hagia Sophia Museum could receive support from funds and donors for its restoration thanks to this quality," the MP has said and added, "The World Monuments Fund funded Turkey for the restoration of Hagia Sophia, thanks to which young conservators form Turkey could be trained and assigned with undertaking maintenance works on the inner side of its dome."

Questions to Minister Ersoy

Accordingly, Filiz Kerestecioğlu has asked Minister of Culture and Tourism Nuri Ersoy a series of questions within this context:

"Holding the operating rights of Hagia Sophia for a period of nine years, will the Swiss company be paid damages for its loss for the remaining seven years? Will you come to table with the company again?

"What is the opinion of your Ministry with regard to the costs to be born by people due to this possible payment of damages?

"Considering that Hagia Sophia brings in over 400 million lira revenue a year, how will this revenue be compensated?

"Was the status of Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, changed without negotiating with the UNESCO? Can Hagia Sophia, which has so far been able to access global funds and donations for its preservation and restoration, access them from now on as well?" (EKN/SD)