[CPProt.net] FW: Medieval Christian Cemetery destroyed. December 2005

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From: Vladimir Teplov [mailto:vladimirteplov at yahoo.com] 
Sent: 22 December 2005 16:13
To: vladimirteplov at yahoo.com
Subject: Medieval Christian Cemetery destroyed. December 2005


 Dear Sir/Madam,

This serves to inform you that on December 14, 2005, an Armenian film crew
on the Nakhichevan border documented the systematic destruction of the
historic Armenian cemetery and stone crosses (khatchkars) in the Djulfa
region of southern Nakhichevan.
A major act of vandalism took place last week in Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan: a
group of Azerbaijani soldiers, supported by arms and equipment, destroyed
the historically and religiously significant headstones of the medieval
Armenian cemetery in Old Jugha, at the bank of river Araks, in Nakhichevan.
The headstones were the remnants of those which survived similar Azerbaijani
vandalism in 2002. The planned act of vandalism threatened the complete
destruction of historic monuments belonging to Armenian, as well as world
cultural heritage. After being smashed to pieces, the Armenian monuments
were loaded on trucks and dumped in the river Araks.
This area, which is situated between Armenia and Iran, has been home to a
majority Armenian population for generations before they were ousted by
successive Azeri governments. The cemetery held more than 10,000
individually carved, artistically unique headstones called Stone Crosses -
khachkars . The Azerbaijani government began their destruction in the 20th
century, continued with great force in 2002, and during the last three days
of the last week resumed with a vengeance attempting to wipe out traces of
Armenian presence in the area.
The fact of soldiers taking part in the act of vandalism testifies to the
Azerbaijani authorities' involvement in yet another attempt of disguising
history with the aim of completely elliminating any trace of Armenians and
historic Armenian presence in Nakhichevan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia has expressed frustration and deep concern over
the issue and has called upon Baku and Nakhichevan to stop these acts
immediately. In the meantime, the Ministry has urged UNESCO and other
international bodies to send experts to Nakhichevan immediately, so that the
fact of vandalism can be recorded and urgent measures be taken.  These acts
of vandalism and violence, this callous demonstration of malice and
intolerance come at a time when the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the
international community at large are extolling the virtues of preserving our
common patrimony. We are hopeful that the ire and disapproval of the
international community will be brought to bear on Azerbaijan in order that
they cease from carrying out these acts which are tantamount to ethnic
cleansing - only this time, when there are no people left, they have
resorted to cleansing the memory of those people.

The International Council on Monuments and Sites - the leading
non-governmental organization working preserve the world's cultural and
religious landmarks - has posted an article on this issue on its website. To
view photos of the Djulfa cemetery and and learn more about the response by
ICOMOS to this issue, visit:

http://www.international.icomos.org/risk/2002/azerbaijan2002.htm

The Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vartan Oskanian, in a December 16th letter,
urgently called upon UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura to use his
office to bring about an end to this destruction. In the letter, he
expresses, with a "great sense of anger and regret," his hope that "the ire
and disapproval of the international community will be brought to bear on
Azerbaijan in order that they cease from carrying out these acts which are
tantamount to ethnic cleansing - only this time, there are no people left,
and they have resorted to cleansing the memory of those people." The
Minister went on to explain that "Nakhichevan was home to a majority
Armenian population for generations."

Photo Caption: Historic Armenian stone crosses (khatchkars) in the Djulfa
region of Nakhichevan, before and after Azerbaijani destruction. For
additional photos and background information, visit the International
Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) website:

http://www.international.icomos.org/risk/2002/azerbaijan2002.htm

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) today called on U.S.
Ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish to immediately and forcefully halt the
ongoing demolition of medieval Armenian cemeteries and historic carved stone
crosses (khatchkars) in the southern Nakhichevan region of Djulfa by the
Azerbaijani armed forces. 

The cemetery, home to more than 10,000 individual khatchkars, was subjected
to sustained attacks throughout the 20th Century and again, starting in
2002, when Azerbaijani forces crushed hundreds of the crosses and shipped
the rubble from the region by rail. The most recent attacks have been the
worst yet. A 12-minute video of the attacks may be viewed at: 

http://www.hairenik.com/Haireniktv/HA_TV_Clip04.htm

Sincerely yours,

Vladimir Teplov


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