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    Emil Lazarian
  • 4 years ago
    • Categories: 2020

Armenia asks int’l organizations to save cultural heritage as Azeris vandalize Shushi Cathedral

Armenia asks int'l organizations to save cultural heritage as Azeris vandalize Shushi Cathedral

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 14:40,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian authorities are in permanent contact with UNESCO and other international organizations dealing with protection of cultural values over the endangerment of the Armenian historic-cultural legacy and archaeological sites in Artsakh that have come under Azeri control.

There are multiple religious sites, monuments, and works of art in territories that will be handed over to Azerbaijan or that have already come under Azeri control following the war.

“Given the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage values by Azerbaijan in the past (there is already evidence of vandalism against the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral), the norms of international law, as well as the cases of violations of obligations under the UN and the Council of Europe, the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports has applied to international organizations demanding them to remain committed to their assumed mission and take practical and resolute actions to prevent and condemn manifestations of Azerbaijani vandalism,” the ministry said in a statement.

Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, the seat of the Diocese of Artsakh of the Armenian Apostolic Church, is located in the town of Shushi, which was captured by Azerbaijani forces. It was bombed twice during the fighting. Now, when the war ended, the church has already been vandalized with graffiti.

 

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

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