POLITICS
UNESCO TO UNDERTAKE SERIOUS MEASURES ON PREVENTION OF DESTRUCTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
Taking part at the debates, chairman of the Azerbaijan national commission in UNESCO, foreign minister Vilayat Guliyev noted that last times the world community often encounter with the facts of malicious destruction of the cultural-historical monuments. Just from this point of view, preparation by UNESCO of necessary mechanisms against intentional destruction of universal cultural heritage is approvable. On the other hand, the major fact, causing alert, is that despite many countries are members of the Conventions concerning protection of cultural values, they do not fulfill the observation resulting from requirements of these documents. Azerbaijan encountered intentional destructions, aggression against its cultural monuments. The documents, confirming intentional destruction by the Armenian Armed Forces at the ancient graveyards at the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, were twice presented current year to UNESCO.
Then, the Minister gave a high assessment to the useful Program of UNESCO titled ‘Fundamental works of folklore and non-material heritage of mankind’, the work done by this Organization in the field of protection of non-material heritage.
Touching upon the issues of interstate relations and cooperation, Mr. Vilayat Guliyev said: “Instability, existence of conflicts in the South Caucasus, separatist tendency, introduced by some states, impede regional cooperation. With Armenia that has occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands and became the reason of ousting over one million Azerbaijanis from their homelands, there might not be any cooperation in any sphere. Large scale cooperation with Armenia is only possible after settlement of the conflict, on which we told yet at the 31st session of UNESCO, therefore, the projects related to the Caucasus can be realized mainly on the dbase of national level”.
Speaking of the problem of education, the Minister noted particular attention and care of state to this sphere, underlined the importance of the assistance UNESCO renders to better education level in the member-states, highly appreciated its efforts in the cause of development of communications and information, projects being realized with the promotion of the development Program, Regular Program, Fund of Scholarships, banks and trust.