"The Turkish authorities’ decision to begin the operation of the Monastery of Chora as a Muslim mosque constitutes  a provocation for the international community as it distorts and affects its character as a UNESCO World Heritage Site belonging to humanity.The maintenance of monuments' universal character and compliance with international standards for the protection of religious and cultural heritage is a clear international obligation binding on all States", the Greek Foreign Ministry said in an announcement late Monday.

After Hagia Sophia, the Turkish president is turning the historic Monastery of Chora, which functioned until today as a museum, into a mosque and has magnificent mosaics.