World Bulletin/News Desk

Following Ottomans' withdrawal from the Balkans in 1912, several Ottoman monuments were destroyed while several of them left to their fate. Turkey, in the last ten years, had been undertaking a policy ending a 100-year-long negligence by restoring several historic monuments of Ottoman era.

Restored several historical buildings especially in the Balkans up today, Turkey's International Cooperation and Development Agency, TIKA, has decided to restore two more historical mosques in Macedonia.

The restoration of Ishak Celebi Mosque, symbol of southwestern Bitola province, and Mahmut Aga Mosque in central province Shtip will begin simultaneously on April 1.

TIKA official Mahmut Cevik said on Tuesday that they had been restoring several historical buildings annually in Macedonia as part of a program.

He said the restoration of Ishak Celebi Mosque (built in 1508) was planned to conclude in 720 days and it would remain open for service during the renovation.

The restoration of Mahmut Aga Mosque (built in 1669), which is already closed, will be completed faster, before the holy month of Ramadan in July 2013.