October 1, 2007 - 18:12 AMT
UN Human Rights Council passes Armenia Resolution on Protection of Cultural Heritage
On 28 September the 6th session of the UN Human Rights Council unanimously passed the Armenia Resolution on the Protection of Cultural Heritage as an Important Component of the Promotion and Protection of Cultural Rights.

The co-authors of the resolution are members of the Council and observers from Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Russia, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Angola, Kazakhstan, Ethiopia, Belarus and other states.

The resolution reads that cultural heritage is a constituent of cultural identity of nations and individuals.

"Each culture has virtues and values, which should be respected and preserved. Protection of cultural rights and cultural variety comprise tolerance, dialogue and cooperation between peoples and civilizations," the resolution says.

The authors say that demolition of cultural monuments is a violation of law which can be described as nationalist and racial acts and religious discrimination. The resolution calls for account those states where vandalism takes place.

Armenia also introduced a statement on desecration of the Armenian cemetery in Nakhichevan and furnished appropriate evidence, the RA MFA press office reports.