Armenia blocks UNESCO mission to assess damage done to Azerbaijan's cultural heritage MP addresses int'l conference

Armenia does not allow the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) mission to assess the state of Azerbaijan's cultural heritage.

Azerbaijani MP, Chairman of the Board of the Western Azerbaijan Community, Aziz Alakbarli, made the statement at an international conference on "Ensuring safe and dignified return of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia: global context and just solution", Report informs.

According to him, there is an increase in the number of refugees all over the world.

"A significant part of refugees and IDPs left their native lands due to armed conflicts. Armenia's actions led to the expulsion of Azerbaijanis from their native lands. As a result, not a single Azerbaijani is left in Armenia today, our cemeteries, cultural and religious monuments have been destroyed there. Ethnic cleansing has also harmed our intangible cultural heritage. Our traditions, way of life and social ties have suffered significantly.

The Armenian government prevents a UNESCO mission to assess the state of Azerbaijan's cultural heritage. We have sent an appeal to Pope Francis, who is an advocate of interreligious dialogue, to help us visit our holy sites in Armenia. Previously, we made a similar request to the EU. Unfortunately, the EU has shown complete disregard for the issue of destruction of our religious and cultural monuments," Alakbarli said.

Moreover, the Community’s Board chairman called on Armenia to correctly assess the possibilities for peace in the region and to take real steps towards reconciliation with Western Azerbaijanis.

Alakbarli noted that Western Azerbaijanis are determined to achieve a return to their native lands through dialogue.

"We are always ready for direct dialogue with the Armenian government on the issue of return. We urge Armenia to learn lessons from the past, stop the policy of hostility and discord, properly assess the opportunities for peace in the region and take real steps for reconciliation with Western Azerbaijanis," he said.

Continuing the event, Turkish MP, Deputy Chairman of the Justice and Development Party of Türkiye, Zafar Sarikaya, noted that Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia have the right to return to their homes under paragraph 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Recalling the severe humanitarian consequences of the former conflict for the Azerbaijani people, Sarikaya regretted the expulsion of Azerbaijanis from Armenia and the destruction of Azerbaijani cultural heritage in that country.

The Turkish MP said that after the liberation of Azerbaijani lands from occupation, a favourable opportunity for lasting peace has emerged in the region.

He also expressed support for Azerbaijan's peace efforts.

Sarikaya also said Türkiye will always support Azerbaijan in the process of peace and normalisation of relations with Armenia.

According to him, the international community should work coherently to ensure the dignified and safe return of IDPs to their homelands: "The participation of international organisations and society in this process is necessary. Therefore, diplomatic steps and mediation efforts should be continued. Azerbaijan urged Armenians in Karabakh not to leave the region and offered them to be equal citizens. But certain groups in Armenia, as well as the Armenian diaspora in the West and some Western countries started to campaign against Azerbaijan. Today, these circles talk about ensuring human rights. However, at one time they turned a blind eye to the violation of the rights of Azerbaijanis."

Sarikaya also spoke about the constructive works carried out by Azerbaijan in Karabakh and the return of refugees to their homes: "About 5,000 Azerbaijanis have already returned to their native lands. It is expected that by the end of this year, their number will reach 6,500."