Turkey Laments Fire İn Historic Greek Ottoman Mosque

Turkey on Wednesday lamented the fire damage done to a nearly 600-year-old Ottoman era mosque in Greece.



"We were saddened to learn that Celebi Sultan Mehmet Mosque in Didymoteicho, Greece, built in 1420, whose restoration Greek authorities began in 2016, was severely damaged as a result of a fire which broke out in the early hours of March 22," said a Foreign Ministry statement.



The ministry stressed the importance of restoring the mosque -- one of the most distinguished examples of Turkey's common cultural heritage with Greece -- in its original form and preserving it for future generations, adding, "We expect Greek authorities to determine the cause of the fire".



It expressed Turkey's willingness to do whatever it can in cooperation with Greece to restore the mosque.



The historic mosque in northern Greece was severely damaged in an early-morning fire on Wednesday, according to local media.



The cause of the blaze is unknown.



However, Greek news agency ANA-MPA reported that an electrical fault could be responsible. Greek Culture Ministry official Maria Andreadaki-Vlazaki was expected to visit the site later Wednesday. -