This story is from July 1, 2020

Mike Pompeo urges Turkey to maintain the status of Hagia Sophia as museum

Mike Pompeo urges Turkey to maintain the status of Hagia Sophia as museum
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo (AFP)
WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday urged the Turkish government to continue to maintain the status of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul as a museum, pushing back on Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's proposal to restore the mosque status of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
"We urge the government of Turkey to continue to maintain the Hagia Sophia as a museum, as an exemplar of its commitment to respect the faith traditions and diverse history that contributed to the Republic of Turkey, and to ensure it remains accessible to all," secretary of state Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

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