GEORGIA PERPETRATES GENOCIDE OF ARMENIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE
De Facto
Nov 26, 2008
YEREVAN, 26.11.08. "What is happening to Armenian churches in Georgia
is nothing but genocide of our cultural heritage. Bare condemnation
of the acts of vandalism will produce no effect. A crime has been
committed and those guilty should be punished by the international
court", Samvel Karapetian, specialist on Armenian architecture, said at
a news conference adding that the Armenian National Council in France
had already taken measures to prevent violence. "They brought a suit
on demolition of Armenian monuments in Djulfa to the European Court of
Human Rights. Hearings will be launched soon," Samvel Karapetian said.
In his words, over 650 Armenian churches are situated in the territory
of Georgia, most of them being appropriated or destructed by the
Georgian side.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture should
take action to put an end to the Georgian policy. By punishing those
guilty of this crime we will make our vandal neighbors respect us and
our cultural heritage," the historian said, PanARMENIAN.Net reports.