The Threat of Destruction of Artsakh's Armenian Cultural Heritage is Real: Ara Aivazyan

On April 5, a meeting of Armenia's National Commission for UNESCO was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where one of the key topics on the agenda was the proper and guaranteed protection of Armenian historical, cultural, and religious heritage in the territories of Artsakh that are now under Azerbaijani control, as well as preventing acts of vandalism and the distortion of identity.

The president of Armenia's National Commission for UNESCO, Foreign Minister Ara Aivazyan, stated: “As you know, due to Azerbaijani and Turkish aggression following the trilateral statement of November 9, the proper and guaranteed preservation of Armenian historical, cultural, and religious heritage in the territories of Artsakh under Azerbaijani control has become an urgent issue, along with other humanitarian concerns. This includes preventing acts of vandalism and ensuring constant monitoring.”

“Thousands of historical and cultural monuments located in the territories of Artsakh that have come under Azerbaijan's military control are in danger of destruction,” he added. “These monuments represent tangible proof of the centuries-old history of the Armenian people in the region and hold significant value not only from the perspective of Armenian heritage but also from the viewpoint of global cultural heritage.”

Ara Aivazyan emphasized that the threat of destruction of Artsakh's Armenian cultural heritage is real, considering the numerous precedents of intentional damage by Azerbaijan, the decades-long policy of anti-Armenian sentiment, and the systematic destruction of Armenian cultural heritage. The destruction of around 28,000 monuments of rich Armenian cultural heritage in Nakhichevan is a testament to this.”

The minister highlighted that from the very first days of Azerbaijani-Turkish aggression, all necessary efforts have been made to draw the attention of the international community to the importance of protecting the cultural monuments of Artsakh. Referring to the delegation to Artsakh under UNESCO's direction, the Foreign Minister stressed that the Armenian side is engaged in constructive dialogue with the organization, and active efforts are underway to implement the mission originally announced by the Director-General of UNESCO, as reaffirmed through the intergovernmental committee's declaration on the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict, as per the 1954 Hague Convention.

The head of Armenia's Foreign Affairs Ministry reiterated that the ministry will continue its systematic work towards the protection of Artsakh's historical and cultural heritage.

Vahram Dumanyan, Armenia's Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, presented to the participants the work carried out by the ministry to protect monuments and museums in Artsakh that have come under Azerbaijani control. Minister Dumanyan emphasized that the security and assurance of Armenian cultural values, which are considered universal human values, are consistently raised in communications on relevant international platforms and with partners.

During the meeting, participants exchanged thoughts on the implementation of the programs included in the agenda of the commission's meeting.