U.S. Ambassador Designate To Azerbaijan Responds To Sen. Boxer’sConc

U.S. AMBASSADOR DESIGNATE TO AZERBAIJAN RESPONDS TO SEN. BOXER’S CONCERNS ON DJULFA CEMETERY DESTRUCTION

Yerkir
22.05.2006 17:21

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – U.S. Ambassador Designate to Azerbaijan Anne Derse
responded to concerns raised by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) regarding
Azerbaijan’s destruction of the over millennia old Djulfa Armenian
cemetery in Nakhichevan, last week, but refrained from pledging any
concrete commitment to investigate the matter, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).

Submitting a written response to questions by Sen. Boxer relayed
during her May 12th Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation
hearing, Derse noted that the Department of State is “urging the
relevant Azerbaijani authorities to investigate the allegations of
desecration of cultural monuments in Nakhichevan and take appropriate
measures to prevent any desecration of cultural monuments. Armenia and
Azerbaijan are both members of UNESCO (and OSCE), and Azerbaijan has
raised these issues in those organizations. We have encouraged Armenia
and Azerbaijan to work with UNESCO to investigate this incident. If
I am confirmed, and if such issues arise during my tenure, I will
communicate our concerns to the Government of Azerbaijan and pursue
appropriate activities in support of U.S. interests.”

Sen. Boxer had specifically asked if the Ambassador Designate would
“visit the cemetery site and commit [herself] to investigating the
demolition of this unique cemetery.”

“We want to thank Senator Boxer for raising Azerbaijan’s desecration
of the Djulfa cemetery with Ambassador Designate Derse,” said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

“We were deeply troubled by the silence of the U.S. Embassy on this
issue during the tenure of her predecessor, Reno Harnish, and remain
hopeful that, despite her evasive response, Anne Derse will prove a
more vocal and effective advocate for the core American values of
tolerance and respect for cultural heritage. She can start off on
the right foot by personally visiting Djulfa during her first month
in office.”

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS