COE: ARMENIAN CLAIMS OF AZERBAIJANIS DESTROYING THEIR GRAVEYARDS SOUND UNPLEASANT

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 18 2006

Council of Europe delegation led by Domeniko Ronkonin, head of culture
division of Directorate General IV on Education, Culture and Heritage,
Youth and Sport will visit the South Caucasus countries in June.

APA’s Europa bureau reports that the visit will be paid in the
framework of the preparation for the Kyiv Initiative- comprehensive
follow-up of the STAGE (Support for Transition in the arts and
culture in the greater Europe) project which ended in 2005-intends
to contribute through action and policies in culture and heritage to
democratic development and dialogue in, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia,
Moldova and Ukraine. The current project will be over in 2006. The
Council of Europe will continue cooperation in culture with the South
Caucasus countries in the format of the Kyiv Initiative from 2007.

The project is being prepared now. Mr.Ronkonin told APA’s correspondent
that the program was very effective and satisfied with Azerbaijan’s
active participation in the program.

Ronkonin also commented on Armenians’ claims on the alleged destruction
of their graveyards by Azerbaijanis, “Such statements are unpleasant. I
and other Council of Europe structures have not been informed about
that. So, it is important to often visit the region in order to control
the issue. Both sides should refrain from making such unfounded
statements. I don’t want to express final opinion regarding this
issue. But I must say that during my stay in Baku I did not witness
any negative nuances while visiting the graveyards of nations with
other religious.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress