Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 10 2006

US official condemns alleged destruction of Armenian graves

Baku, March 9, AssA-Irada

The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
Affairs Matthew Bryza has come out against the alleged destruction of
ancient graves in Azerbaijan’s exclave of Nakhchivan. The destruction
of historic monuments in Julfa, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic,
marked a `major tragedy’, he told a news briefing in the Armenian
capital Yerevan.
Bryza noted that the US is regularly in touch with the Azeri
government. `They understand how seriously we take this issue,’ he
said, emphasizing that his country would like to see the culprits
punished.
`There are numerous historical and cultural monuments in the South
Caucasus region and they are at risk of ceasing to exist in all the
three countries,’ the American official added.*