Turks level statue ‘similar’ to Armenian national emblem.

Statues featuring an eagle and a lion have been taken down a in the Turkish town Kutahya because of an alleged similarity to the Armenian national emblem.

The decision to demolish the sculptures, standing in front of the Dumlupinar University, was made by the scientific board members, the Turkish newspaper Milliyet reported.

The rector of the University was quoted as saying that the statues did not have a majestic look, adding that they periodically received complaints that the the sculptured images were very much like the lion and eagle portrayed in Armenia’s coat of arms.

The author of the statues reportedly denied such similarity, saying that he had never been inspired by the Armenian national emblem.
“I am a Turk; a nationalist pursuing Ataturk’s ideology,” he said.

It comes after a member of the opposition Democratic People’s Party, Oktay Eksi, sent a written notice to the Turkish Minister of National Education to verify the reports on a plan to demolish the sculptures.