Global Heritahe Fund: Ruins of Ani among endangered sites
More than 200 of the world's most significant cultural heritage sites could be severely damaged or lost which would cost developing nations over $100 billion in lost revenue, a new report of Global Heritage Fund showed.
Among the endangered cultural sites the ruins of Ani are mentioned. Now in the territory of Turkey, Ani is endangered by picnickers and homeless.
GHF executive director Jeff Morgan told CNN that Ani is probably one of the top 10 sites in the world, right up there with Machu Picchu and Angkor Wat. For him, Ani has been “caught in a political morass,” because of its position on the border of two countries -- Turkey and Armenia -- that don’t have diplomatic relations. Morgan also argued that restoring these heritage sites will attract tourism that can pay for their ongoing preservation and bring sustainable income to local communities.