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State Department spokesperson: Hagia Sophia is of extreme importance

"Hagia Sophia is of extreme importance. We urge the government of Turkey to maintain its status in a manner that would respect its complex history," State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said.

Asked to clarify if this means that Washington opposes to the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, she said:
"I didn't say that. It's a complicated story. We recognize the enormous importance of Hagia Sophia for other faiths. And urge the Turkish authorities to take this into account."