Torosyan comments on Stepanakert church demolitions

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia’s Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Arsen Torosyan, commenting on the demolition of churches in Stepanakert by Azerbaijanis, said on Public Television that the issue could be raised by UNESCO, but not by Armenia.

“Let’s say we did that—what would it give Armenia and its citizens? Azerbaijan is doing something within its sovereign territory,” he said, according to Aysor.am .

In his assessment, if Armenia takes steps in this direction, it could revive the Karabakh movement.

In recent days, two churches in Stepanakert have been completely demolished one after another—the St. Hakob Church and the city’s main sanctuary, the Holy Mother of God Cathedral.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, commenting on the destruction of the cathedral, said: “Taking into account our previous experience, I do not think we will make this an issue for international discussion at the state level. This is a situation we need to fully and comprehensively understand.”

Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan has sent an official appeal to the U.S. president, members of the Senate and Congress, the Pope, as well as leaders of influential international and church organizations, raising the issue of the destruction of Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage in Artsakh.