ANCIENT CROSSES SMASHED WITH SLEDGEHAMMERS

Independent
New Zealand Herald, New Zealand
May 31 2006

BRUSSELS – Fears that Azerbaijan has systematically destroyed hundreds
of 500-year-old Christian artefacts have exploded into a diplomatic
row, after European Union MPs were barred from inspecting an ancient
Armenian burial site.

The predominantly Muslim country’s Government has been accused by the
International Council on Monuments and Sites of vandalism similar to
the Taleban’s demolition of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan.

The claims centre on the fate of rare “khachkars”, stone crosses
carved with intricate floral designs, at the burial ground of Djulfa
in the Nakhichevan region of Azerbaijan, an enclave separated from
the rest of the country by Armenia.

The works – some of the most important examples of Armenian heritage
– are said to have been smashed with sledgehammers last December as
the site was concreted over.

The Azerbaijan Government, which denies the claims, is now at the
centre of a row with MEPs, some of whom it accused of a “biased and
hysterical approach”. Its ambassador to the EU also says the European
Parliament has ignored damage to Muslim sites in Armenia.

Azerbaijan refused to allow a delegation of MEPs permission to visit
the 1500-year-old Djulfa cemetery during their trip to the region
last month.

Most of original 10,000 khachkars, which date from the 15th and 16th
century, were destroyed by the early 20th century.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress