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Hurriyet Turkey is preparing to intensify efforts to reclaim historical assets smuggled abroad, including the remains of a saint. 
Culture and Tourism Minister Ertu rul Günay told reporters in Antalya on Sunday that there were plans to demand the return of the bones of St. Nicholas, which were smuggled to the city of Bari, Italy more than 920 years ago. The bones will be displayed at the Church of St. Nicholas in Antalya's Demre district."Some of our richest historical assets are on display at different museums all around the world," Günay was quoted as saying by the Do an news agency. "We want all of them back, because every piece should be displayed where it belongs." St. Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus, was born in the ancient city of Patara and spent his entire life in Myra, today's Demre, where he died. The minister said Turkey should prove that the historical pieces would be displayed and preserved in the best way possible before demanding their return. "This is what we are trying to do now," said Günay. "We are trying to take care of our museums and archaeological sites and tell the world that we are right about our demands. I believe that we will be able to manage this in a very short time." When asked when the demand for St. Nicholas' bones would be made, Günay said he must first consult experts and there is no timeline for the process. "But [the bones] must be here and we will try to make it possible," he said. Professor Nevzat Çevik of Akdeniz University, who heads the Myra-Andriake excavations in Demre, told the Anatolia news agency that St. Nicholas' remains were stolen from his grave in Demre by Italian merchants in 1087 and were then reburied at a church in Bari, Italy. Çevik said the argument raised by historian Philip Lynch, who suggested that the saint's remains were taken to Ireland from Bari, was not realistic. He said famous historians John Hunt and Brendan Smith also disagree with Lynch. The remains in Ireland and are most probably the remains of another prominent Christian clergyman, said Çevik. "There are no scientific facts to prove that the grave in Ireland belongs to St. Nicholas," he said. "It is a shallow argument and I don't know why the argument has been raised recently." Antalya Museum's Deputy Director Cumali Ayabakan said the pieces of jaw and face bones known to belong St. Nicholas are displayed in a special section in the Antalya Museum and are visited by hundreds of thousands of people every year. "Orthodox visitors especially travel to Demre after they visit the remains here," said Ayabakan. "Most of these people say all the remains should be in the grave at the church in Demre. But unfortunately, most of the remains are in Bari." The deputy director said if the remains are brought back, they will be put in the grave and protected. Muammaer Karabulut, president of Noel Baba Foundation, recalled an official application made in 1997 demanding that the remains be returned. "At that time, we were told that it was not possible," said Karabulut. "Since then, the issue has become a religious and political matter. I don't think the remains should be brought back before the issues are resolved." While Karabulut has some reservations, locals in Demre think that St. Nicholas' remains belong in the historical town. Hakan Kaya, a tourism investor, told the Anatolia news agency that if someone was born, and lived and died in a country then it is wrong to be buried elsewhere. Kaya said the Italians should press their government to return the remains. Mehmet Ar1c1, a shop owner in Demre, said Saint Nicholas' grave has been empty since his remains were stolen, and in order to find peace the remains should be brought back. A tourist from Belgium, Cogu Jean Claude, sees no meaning in having an empty grave at the church he visited. "I, like any civilized person, would like to see the remains of St. Nicholas where it belongs," he said. "Not only should his remains, but every historical piece smuggled abroad should be returned. They are all part of the world's cultural heritage and they should be where they belong." St. Nicholas is a very important figure for Turkey, said Çevik. "This is not a sculpture or a door we are talking about here, we are talking about the body of a saint," he said. "St. Nicholas said I was born here, I have lived here, and I will be buried here' before his death in Demre. He was buried here, and should be kept here, too." The professor said everybody should respect St. Nicholas' wish. "He would have said bury me in Bari' if he wanted to," said Çevik. "The remains should be back in his grave, so that St. Nicholas can rest in peace. Italians and all Christians in Europe should contribute to make the saint's wish come true." Çevik said there have been studies on the places where Saint Nicholas spent his life. He said Demre has the potential to become one of the world's most important spots for pilgrimages. "Demre is not only the Church of Saint Nicholas," said the professor. "St. Nicholas was the bishop of Demre in the Byzantium age. A whole city lies six meters underground." A synagogue found in the ancient city of Myra was a surprise to the whole team, said Çevik. "Ancient Myra, today's Demre, has been home to every religion," he said. "The 500-year-old Jewish temple has added another layer to Lycia's cultural heritage. The temple shows that the Jewish people have been in Anatolia for 1,500 years. And most importantly, the Jewish people were here when the Christians were very dominant, that changes the perception of historians."
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