Armenian Cultural Heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh Under Threat: EU Conference in Brussels Raises Alarms

Armenian Church – OCP News Service – 25/01/2024

Brussels – Belgium: On January 24, 2024, the European Parliament hosted a vital conference titled “Preserving the cultural and spiritual heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh,” sparking urgent discussions about Azerbaijan’s alleged destruction of Armenian religious and historical sites. The event, organized by the European Parliament itself, aimed to shed light on this pressing issue and advocate for international intervention.

Ambassador Tigran Balayan, representing Armenia in Belgium and the EU, and MEP Miriam Lexman opened the conference with introductory remarks, setting the stage for a series of impactful presentations.

With the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Father Garegin Hambardzumyan, head of the Artsakh spiritual and cultural heritage office, delivered a poignant address. He denounced Azerbaijan’s systematic targeting of Armenian sanctuaries and cultural monuments, highlighting the urgency of international action to safeguard this threatened heritage.

Father Garegin’s passionate plea called for:

• Protection of Nagorno-Karabakh’s cultural and religious treasures: He reminded the audience of the international legal frameworks, such as the Hague Convention, that guarantee the protection of cultural property during armed conflict and occupation.
• Respect for religious freedom: Azerbaijan’s actions, he argued, violate fundamental human rights enshrined in international treaties like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the freedom of religion and belief.
• Independent assessment by UNESCO: Father Garegin urged the international community to facilitate the access of UNESCO independent experts to assess the extent of damage to Armenian cultural sites and document their endangered status.

The conference further featured insightful presentations from prominent figures like:

• Sneska Quaedvieg-Mikhaylovich, Secretary General of Europa Nostra, a leading cultural heritage protection organization.
• Armine Tigranyan, a renowned expert on Artsakh’s cultural heritage from the “Bnorran” NGO.
• Pierre d’Arzhan, a professor at Leuven University with expertise in cultural heritage rights.

Their contributions enriched the discussion with diverse perspectives and concrete recommendations for safeguarding the threatened legacy of Nagorno-Karabakh.

This event in Brussels marks a significant step towards raising international awareness about the plight of Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh. The call for intervention and protection resonated with attendees, urging the international community to take concrete steps to preserve these vulnerable treasures from further destruction.

Source:
OCP News Services