POLITICS
PACE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED ISSUE OF PROTECTION CULTURAL HERITAGE
According to the information provided by MP of Azerbaijan Ali Abbasov, the deputy from Great Britain D.O. Khara, making at the session a report on “Political situation in the Kosovo and protection of cultural heritage in Europe”, said that PACE attaches special attention to protection of cultural heritage that belong to numerous nations of Europe, and realizes fruitful activity in this field. Touching upon the issue of protection of cultural heritage in the South Caucasus, the reporter analyzed issues of regarding cultural heritage, belonging to separate peoples and ethnic groups of this region, and noted that the last year April session of PACE discussed the state of cultural heritage in the South Caucasus, and were adopted appropriate decisions.
Though the Committee did certain work in the field of fulfillment of these decisions, the problem yet remains unsolved. The English deputy disclosed the essence of the letters sent by the minister of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan Vilayat Guliyev and minister of culture Polad Bulbuloglu who stated on destruction by the Armenians of the Azerbaijani monuments at the occupied territories. It was also noted that member of the delegation of Azerbaijan at PACE Rafael Huseynov sent to the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, concerning destruction of ancient monuments of Azerbaijan at the occupied lands.
Ali Abbasov said that, taking part at the discussions, he stated that the Armenians made next insidious slanders and falsification to divert attention of the world community from their occupant policy, and that it is completely unclear on what their monuments in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic are speaking the Armenians. He noted that after fall of the USSR, at the territory of Nakhchivan was destroyed not a single monument, on the contrary, they are protected by state. If an authoritative delegation will go to Nakhchivan, then it can eyewitness it.
Ali Abbasov said that in his remarks he once again attracted attention of the Committee members to the fact that the Azikh cave is situated at the occupied by Armenians territory of Azerbaijan, and reminded that the Armenians intentionally slander on others to impart an idea that this cave is situated just in our territory, and thus tried to misrepresent the truth. Excavations conducted by them in the cave completely contradict international legal norms.
At the session, was adopted a decision on organizing on 8-19 April next year a visit to this region of special expert group, comprising representatives of both CE department of culture and PACE science, education and culture committee, connected with protection of cultural heritage in the countries of the South Caucasus to study the issue in place and preparing appropriate proposals to send them to the ministries of foreign affairs of the three countries of region.