Statement delivered by the Delegation of Armenia during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights at the 46th Session of the UN HRC

03 March, 2021

HRC 46^th Session: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights

Delivered by Mrs. Zoya Stepanyan, Second Secretary

Madam President,

Armenia thanks the Special Rapporteur for her engagement with the Human Rights Council. We agree with the observation that culture and creative sectors were among the hardest hit by the pandemic and subsequent restrictions. This situation not only creates particular vulnerability for cultural institutions and self- employed professionals but also hampers the realization of cultural rights.

We would also like to draw the attention of the Council to the situation of gross violations of human rights, including cultural rights of people residing in the areas of armed conflict. The case in point is deliberate destruction, appropriation and looting of indigenous Armenian heritage of Artsakh/Nagorno Karabakh. As a result of recent aggression by Azerbaijan against the people of Nagorno Karabakh thousands of Armenian historical, cultural, and religious monuments are facing the risk of annihilation. For decades Azerbaijan was perusing policy of erasure of all traces of Armenian presence in Nagorno Karabakh with meticulous ferocity and barbarianism. During the recent war the Holy Savior Cathedral in Shushi was bombed several times and desecrated after city was occupied. Number of other religious and cultural sites faced the same fate.

Madam President,

Since the secession of hostilities Azerbaijan is hampering the access of the specialized international agencies most notably Assessment mission by UNESCO which is being delayed for months now. UNESCO stated that authorities of Azerbaijan had been approached several times without any success.

I thank you.

Right of reply to the Statement made by Azerbaijan

Madam President,

My delegation asked for the floor to address groundless accusations voiced here by Azerbaijan on the issue of cultural heritage.

Let us bring you only one example out of many. During peacetime 89 medieval churches, 5.840 ornate cross-stones (Khachkars), and 22,000 historical tombstones were demolished by Azerbaijan only in Nakhijevan, an area beyond the conflict zone. Despite the international outcry, including a report by the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and a resolution by the European Parliament, policy of falsification and erasure continued.

On the other hand, the Nagorno-Karabakh authorities have renovated the mosque in the town of Shushi and have been taking care of other monuments without distinction to their origin. This has been confirmed by international reports.

The mere fact that Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have always been in favor of an international mission for monitoring the state of affairs of the cultural and religious sites in the whole region and Azerbaijan has always denied the access, speaks for itself. Obviously, Azerbaijan tries to conceal the damage it caused not just in Nagorno Karabakh but the destruction of rich Armenian culture in Azerbaijan, including in capital Baku. The consecutive US Ambassadors to Azerbaijan publicly stated on several occasions that their access to Nakhijevan for checking upon the state of Armenian monuments has been continuously denied.

In the territory of Artsakh, currently under Azerbaijani occupation there are 1,456 overwhelmingly Armenian historical and cultural immovable monuments, including 161 Armenian churches, the archaeological sites, 8 state museums and galleries at the risk of misappropriation and destruction.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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