January 31, 2004 - 18:21 AMT
FILM ABOUT DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN MONUMENTS IN TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN SHOWN IN LONDON
Komitas Armenian Institute in Britain together with Narekatsi New York Institute of Arts organized the showing of the documentary film recounting the destruction of Armenian cultural monuments in Turkey and Azerbaijan. According to a report of Komitas Institute, the film entitled "Desecration" presents the facts testifying of converting the Armenian Churches into mosques or using them as storehouses or barns. Many Armenian monuments in Turkey such as the Msho Surb Arakelots and St. Karapet monasteries were simply ruined. The film demonstrates thousands of desecrated Khachkars (cross-stones) at the territory of the Azerbaijani region of Nachichevan. The Azeris using tractors razed these monuments to the ground; local Armenian churches suffered the same fate. Comments on the film were made by the author, photographer Howk Khacherian, who expresses hope that with time Turkey will turn to its history and correct the mistakes of the past within the limits of the possible. "Desecration" was demonstrated in Great Britain to honor the day of the Holocaust.