Foreign ministers of the European Union on Monday condemned Turkey's decision to convert Istanbul's iconic Hagia Sophia back to a mosque, saying that "will inevitably fuel mistrust, promote renewed divisions between religious communities and undermine efforts at dialogue and cooperation."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday denounced rising criticism over Ankara's intention to convert the Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque, claiming that "The accusations against our country on the Hagia Sophia mean a direct attack on our sovereignty rights."

"We will continue to protect the rights of Muslims, the dominant faith in our country, and those of other religions," Erdogan said Friday in Istanbul.

Monday's meeting was the first physical get-together of EU foreign ministers since the coronavirus pandemic. Turkey topped the agenda of the 27-member bloc, which reached "a consensus among member states that EU-Turkey relations were currently under strain because of worrying developments affecting the EU's interests."

The EU foreign ministers also called for what they say is "illegal" and "unilateral" drilling by Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean to stop and asked Turkey to contribute actively to a political solution in Libya and to respect the commitments it had taken, including the UN arms embargo.

Hagia Sophia is an iconic Byzantine church built in the 5th century. Throughout the centuries, the former Greek Orthodox Christian church had also served as a Roman Catholic cathedral and an Ottoman mosque as the city changed rulers. After the founding of the Republic of Turkey, the building, which witnessed the rise and fall of several empires, reopened as a museum and became a symbol of the blending of East and West cultures and one of Turkey's most popular tourist attractions.

Turkish court paves way to turn Hagia Sophia into a mosque

The museum has been recognized by UNESCO as a monument of world cultural heritage since 1985. Days earlier, UNESCO said it was "regrettable that the Turkish decision was not the subject of dialogue nor notification beforehand."

The Turkish State Council on Friday reached a verdict on the fate of the monument and Erdogan announced that the first Muslim prayer at the site will be held on July 24.

The United States said it was "disappointed" by the decision and Russia called the action "a mistake," saying turning Hagia Sophia into a mosque will not do anything for the Muslim world nor bring nations together, but on the contrary brings them into collision.

(With input from Xinhua)