VISIT OF PACE SPEAKER ON MONITORING OF CULTURAL SITES TO ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO BE POSTPONED
Regnum, Russia
May 24 2006
Visit of PACE speaker on monitoring of cultural sites, British MP
Edward O’Hara to Azerbaijan and Armenia, planned for May 28, has
been postponed.
The PACE planned to send the mission, headed by O’Hara, on May 28
-June 4 into the region. The mission is to familiarize itself with
the state of Armenian historical sites in Nakhichevan and prepare a
detailed report on it.
It is worth reminding that reports on destroying of Armenian monuments
in Old Julfa (Nakhichevan) by Azerbaijani soldiers were received by
the Armenian Embassy to Iran. On February 16, the European Parliament
adopted resolution, condemning Azerbaijan’s actions, aimed at
destroying of khachkars at Old Julfa Armenian cemetery. Supporters of
the document pointed out inadmissibility of destroying cultural sites,
which have equal importance to all mankind, by Azerbaijan. It was
stressed that detailed requests should be formulated for Azerbaijan,
which committed the crime and which joined EU New Neighborhood
Program. Mentioning statements that destroying of khachkars was caused
by the Karabakh conflict, the European MPs stressed that Nakhichevan
is far from the conflict zone.