US envoy visits Hagia Sophia to see restoration works after its conversion into a mosque

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey David Satterfield and his family visited Hagia Sophia to see the restoration works carried out at the site after its conversion into a mosque. "Ambassador Satterfield toured Hagia Sophia to admire its grandeur and technical genius, and better understand the renovation and restoration work to be completed to preserve the universal value of and continued access to this monumental building," the embassy said on July 30.

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U.S. Ambassador to Turkey David Satterfield and his family visited Hagia Sophia to see the restoration works carried out at the site after its conversion into a mosque.

Satterfield was accompanied by U.S. Istanbul Consul General Daria Darnell and embassy employees during his visit.

"Ambassador Satterfield toured Hagia Sophia to admire its grandeur and technical genius, and better understand the renovation and restoration work to be completed to preserve the universal value of and continued access to this monumental building," the embassy said on July 30.

The visit lasted for 45 minutes and Provincial Culture and Tourism Minister Coşkun Yılmaz and the mosque's chief imam, Prof. Mehmet Boynukalın, were also present.

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