HISTORIAN SAMVEL KARAPETYAN IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE TERM "OCCUPIED TERRITORIES"
Alisa Gevorgyan – "Radiolur"

Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 18 2006

The last 15 years were certainly fatal for the historical-cultural
monuments on the territory of Artsakh and the neighboring liberated
territories. These monuments survived not because the attitude of
Azerbaijan towards these was milder than towards the headstones in
Old Jugha. Simply, during these years the memorials were maintained
by people for whom every item was the holy relic of the motherland
inherited from predecessors. During the recent years, particularly in
the light of the opportunities provided by the cease-fire, different
Armenian organizations were actively studying the historical-cultural
legacy in Artsakh and the neighboring liberated territories. In 1997
"ERA" Company undertook reconstruction works at Dadivank complex.

Currenly archeological digging is under way in Aghdam. Exceptional
monuments have been found in this region, which once again best confirm
the centuries-long existence of the Armenian ethnos in this area. "When
speaking about mutual concessions, it should be kept in mind that
Armenia has already made concessions by losing Northern Artsakh,"
says historian Samvel Karapetyan, President of the "ERA" Company.

Samvel Karapetyan has carried out investigations in all seven liberated
territories. "The first investigations started in 1993-1996, when no
resident could be found on these territories.

Today the situation has changed. I have been to all seven territories,
but it’s not ruled out that in one or two years the explorations will
restart, since today you can learn more from the settlers than your
eye can catch during one visit, he says.

According to the historian, certainly, the historical monuments of a
country are not decisive in politics, but these can indirectly impact
the decisions of political figures.