Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has raised the importance of preserving the Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is under imminent threat of elimination by Azerbaijan.
Mirzoyan made the remarks at the Ministerial Meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, September 25.
The Foreign Minister said Armenia has not remained unaffected by the current turbulence in the world order, having faced rising intolerance, xenophobia, and the destruction of cultural heritage.
“The millennia-old Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh is under imminent threat of elimination, following the ethnic cleansing of its entire indigenous Armenian population. In this regard, Armenia strongly supports the immediate deployment of an independent UNESCO expert mission to Nagorno-Karabakh to assess, document, and protect endangered Armenian cultural heritage,” Mirzoyan said.
“It should be noted, that the deliberate and systematic destruction, desecration and appropriation of Armenian cultural and religious sites and artifacts represents a direct breach of the legally binding order of International Court of Justice, which ordered Azerbaijan to take all necessary measures to prevent and punish acts of vandalism and desecration affecting Armenian cultural heritage, including but not limited to churches and other places of worship, monuments, landmarks, cemeteries and artifacts.
It is our conviction that through our shared commitment, we can transcend political and geographical boundaries, building bridges of understanding that counter the forces of division and conflict. By celebrating our common cultural achievements and preserving the unique contributions of each civilization, we can help to create a world where diversity is cherished and historical memory is honored.
At the end of his speech Mirzoyan invited you to attend the 8th Meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum, which will be held on 18 December in Armenia.
