Karekin II: Azerbaijan continues its barbaric destruction of ancient  Armenian monuments in Artsakh

ArmInfo. An international conference dedicated to the preservation of the Armenian spiritual  and cultural heritage of Artsakh launched in Bern, on May 27.  As ArmInfo was informed by the press service of the Mother See of Etchmiadzin, the event was organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) jointly with the Swiss Protestant Church at the suggestion of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.

Addressing the participants of the conference, His Holiness   emphasized that "In the 21st century, which should have been marked  by the establishment of peace, solidarity and justice in the lives of  nations and states, unfortunately, we are witnessing wars, genocidal  acts and ethnic cleansing carried out on the basis of hostility and  hatred, as well as condemnable cases of violation of religious  freedom and fundamental human rights. Our people also survived these  disasters as a result of the aggression and crimes committed against  Artsakh by Azerbaijan with the military support of Turkey. During the  44-day and then large-scale military operations unleashed in 2020 and  2023, Artsakh was occupied and completely depopulated.  Significant  territories of vital importance to the border of the Republic of  Armenia have been occupied, new demands are being presented in the  process of signing a peace treaty."

He also reminded that Azerbaijan is holding Artsakh's political  leaders, civilians and prisoners of war hostage, conducting a show  trial against them in flagrant violation of international legal  norms. "It is obvious that such illegalities and humiliating  atrocities are conditioned exclusively by national affiliation and  Armenophobia, which is the reason for encroachments on the spiritual  and cultural heritage of the Armenian people and historical holy  sites."

His Holiness noted with sorrow that after the occupation of Artsakh,  the barbaric destruction of ancient Armenian monuments, Christian  holy sites, settlements and cemeteries by Azerbaijan continues to  this day.  By adopting a policy of depriving ancient Armenian  monasteries and churches of their identity, Azerbaijan is declaring  the Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage of Artsakh to be  Albanian.

"The Azerbaijani authorities continue to ignore the calls of the  international community, refuse to implement the requirements of the  European Parliament's 2022 Resolution No. 2582 "On the Destruction of  Cultural Heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh", as well as reject the UNESCO  initiative to conduct a fact-finding mission to assess the condition  of Armenian monuments in Artsakh. The Chairman of the Caucasus  Muslims Board, Allahshukur Pashazade, who made false statements a few  days ago, has also joined the anti-Armenian propaganda of the  Azerbaijani authorities," His Holiness added, noting that with this  same anti-Armenian style of action by Azerbaijan, the Armenian holy  sites of Nakhichevan were brutally destroyed, and exactly twenty  years ago, in 2005, about six thousand khachkars in Old Julfa,  Nakhichevan, were razed to the ground.

"Cultural crimes sadly do not know geographical boundaries and are  everywhere where the rights of humans and peoples are violated,  xenophobia and intolerance are manifested, and the sublime value and  importance of spiritual heritage are ignored. Crimes committed  against cultural heritage are rightly viewed not only as a crime  against one nation, but also as a crime against universal human  values.  The impunity of such barbaric crimes creates an atmosphere  of permissiveness not only for the continuation of the culturally  destructive crimes of Azerbaijan, but also creates prerequisites and  encourages the commission of similar and more brutal crimes in other  places in the world," said the Armenian Patriarch, confirming that  the protection of cultural values is not only a sacred obligation for  everyone, but also an imperative for the preservation of the history,  faith and identity of nations and peoples.

Then, addressing the participants of the conference, His Holiness  emphasized: "The issue of preserving the spiritual, cultural and  historical heritage of Artsakh is more urgent than ever today, when  the forcibly displaced people of Artsakh are deprived of the right to  live and create on their own land, to preserve and develop the  culture they have built with their faith for centuries. Such terrible  atrocities against humanity and humanity, acts that undermine the  pillars of freedom, justice and law, should not be tolerated in the  modern world. Yes, conflicts between nations should be resolved  through peaceful means, with justice and mutual consent, with respect  for national identity and dignity."

Attaching great importance to the holding of such conferences, the  Armenian Patriarch expressed hope that international actors and  competent institutions will take active steps aimed at the  preservation of the spiritual and cultural heritage of Artsakh, the  safe return of the Artsakh Armenians to their native homeland, the  restoration of their just right to live freely and with dignity, and  the speedy release of Armenian prisoners.

In conclusion, His Holiness thanked the sister Churches and  inter-church organizations for supporting the Armenian people and the  Church in a difficult situation and for demonstrating consistency in  protecting the rights of the Armenians of Artsakh, wishing the  conference a fruitful course.