FM: Armenians have been destroying Azerbaijani cultural heritage for 30 years

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has said that Armenians have been destroying the Azerbaijani cultural heritage for 30 years.

He made the remarks on December 8, while receiving the delegation led by the President of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO, Ocal Oguz, who is visiting Azerbaijan to participate in the international conference on "UNESCO conventions' role in preserving cultural values and aspects of improving their application," Caliber.Az reports, citing the ministry.

The meeting focused on the close connections between Türkiye and Azerbaijan as well as, within their respective National Commissions for UNESCO. In this regard, it was stressed how crucial it is for both parties to work together to submit their shared Turkic legacy to the appropriate UNESCO heritage lists.

Bayramov stated that within the framework of Armenia's 30-year-long aggression policy against Azerbaijan, a systematic policy has been implemented in the direction of destruction, looting, and appropriation of Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage.

He also briefed the opposite side about the damage done to the cultural wealth during the past period and the intentional change of the historical and cultural character of the Azerbaijani cultural heritage. The minister noted the threat of landmines in the liberated territories and the serious humanitarian consequences caused by it.

Furthermore, Bayramov informed about the practical steps taken by Azerbaijan to eliminate the severe consequences of the 30-year occupation and noted that all cultural and religious monuments in the liberated lands are properly protected and restored, regardless of their origin. The minister pointed out that Azerbaijan repeatedly warned UNESCO about gross violations and illegal activities committed by Armenia and raised the issue of sending a technical mission to the occupied territories.

Oguz, in turn, talked about the joint actions taken by TURKSOY member countries to protect the intangible cultural heritage and congratulated Azerbaijan on the announcement of the city of Shusha as the "Cultural Capital of the Turkic World" for 2023. He pointed out that it is the Turkic world’s shared responsibility at the international level to protect the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan, especially on the liberated territories.

During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the joint events that Shusha will host as the cultural capital of the Turkish world in 2023, as well as other topics of mutual interest.