Although potential for future work remains, it appears that the Turkish government will not issue permits for a 1975 expedition to Mt. Ararat, either to the Institute for Creation Research (ICR) or any other group. John Morris, Field Director of the ICR Ararat Project since 1972, returned from Turkey on May 24 after spending a month there attempting to gain sanction for the proposed 1975 ICR Ararat Probe.
In meetings and private sessions with various Turkish leaders, Mr. Morris showed reasons why the project would constitute valuable scientific research dealing with the general subject of origins, would be a stimulus to Turkish tourism, would possibly yield the greatest archaeological find of all time, and would be a substantial good-will gesture coming at a time when international relationships are strained.
Most of these influential Turkish leaders did agree that the evidence indicates that the remains of Noah’s Ark still exist on Mt. Ararat on their Eastern frontier. They realize that the documented relocation of the Ark would produce many positive results from their point of view. However, they did not feel that such a search was urgent or practical at this time.
Several of the Turkish officials indicated that, perhaps in three to five years, their own government would itself launch exploratory efforts to search for Noah’s Ark. ICR would, of course, be delighted to have a part in the discovery, but the more important consideration is that the Ark be located and properly documented, regardless of who makes the initial find. Correspondingly, Mr. Morris willingly made the results of the ICR research available to Turkish authorities, and possible locations of the vessel were discussed with them in detail. It may be that these discussions will produce results faster than an American expedition could.
During January of 1975, when the official prospectus of the ICR probe reached Turkey applying for permission, a special Turkish Cabinet-level session decided to deny all such requests for the summer of 1975. In April, the ICR project leader spent two weeks in Washington, D.C. conferring with key legislators and administrative officials on the project and had hoped that his conferences in Turkey during May might encourage a reversal of this decision.
BSP 4:2-3 (Spring—Summer 1975) p. 81
Several factors influenced this ruling. First, the recent termination of the Kurdish civil war to the south of Turkey has fostered growing unrest among the Kurds in the Ararat area. Secondly, Greek and Armenian influence have produced considerable anti-Turkish sentiment in America, Europe and the United Nations. Furthermore, due to Turkish reaction to the 1974 Greek involvement on the island of Cyprus, the American Congress has not only stopped sending military aid to Turkey, but has imposed an arms embargo, refusing even to sell defense equipment to Turkey. . .
A further problem is that, during July and August of 1974, three American Ark expeditions climbed Mt. Ararat without official approval. In the eyes of the Turkish government these expeditions are quite illegal, and all participants are subject to arrest upon their return. Abrasive and misleading publicity resulting from these expeditions has generated a strong anti-search sentiment among Turkish officials. Several times, particularly in the vicinity of the mountain itself, Mr. Morris was detained and nearly arrested merely for talking about this sensitive subject to local officials.
Because of ICR’s strictly legal and ethical approach to the project, Mr. Morris and his traveling companions were released each time after their names were checked against the list of known Ararat offenders. These detainments provided an excellent opportunity to establish good relationships with the governmental officials of the Ararat area. Extensive photographs of the upper reaches of the mountain were displayed, and probable sites were discussed. The significant other archaeological findings around the base of the mountain surprised even the most knowledgeable of these officials. For the first time many began to see the overwhelming importance and implications of a serious scientific study of the area and the relocation of the remains of Noah’s Ark. Each local official pledged his support of the ICR team in the future, as soon as governmental permission to explore can be acquired.
While in Turkey, Morris lectured five times to various U.S. Air Force and private groups and found interest in the project high. One of these meetings turned up striking new data concerning the existence of the Ark that is now being checked out. According to John Morris and the ICR team, there remains little doubt that Noah’s Ark does exist, and its relocation is near.
(Reprinted by permission from the July-August 1975 issue of Acts & Facts, published by the Institute for Creation Research. Acts & Facts is available to interested readers on request. Write to: Institute for Creation Research 2716 Madison Ave., San Diego, CA 92116.)
BSP 4:2-3 (Spring—Summer 1975) p. 82