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His Holiness Aram I Strongly Condemns The Organized Crime Againstthe Armenian Cul
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I STRONGLY CONDEMNS THE ORGANIZED CRIME AGAINST
THE ARMENIAN CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL MONUMENTS
Today in a letter addressed to the Director-General of UNESCO, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, strongly condemned the “cultural genocide” against the Armenian cultural and religious monuments and sites in Nakhichevan and Turkish-occupied territories in Cyprus. His Holiness urges UNESCO to take concrete measures to stop such illegal and immoral attempts.
Hereunder the full text of the letter:
Dear Mr. Matsuura,
This morning we were deeply shocked to learn from our Primates, who serve the Armenian communities in Tehran, Isfahan and Tabriz in the Islamic Republic of Iran that, on the Nakhitchevan side of the river Arax, which separates Iran from Nakhitchevan, Armenian historical and religious monuments (such as stone-crosses and other pieces of art symbolizing the Armenian religious and cultural values), are being destroyed in a well-organized manner. According to reliable sources, eye witness accounts and photos at our disposal, these monuments, after partial or complete destruction, have been thrown into the river.
One cannot remain silent while these historical monuments of profound cultural, archeological and religious importance are being destroyed. In fact, similar attempts have been made three years ago in the same area. Similar attempts, in different ways, have also been made in the occupied territories of Cyprus where the centuries-old Armenian monastery of Saint Magar was transformed into a restaurant. We have informed UNESCO about these activities. Unfortunately, your organization did not take concrete measures to stop these well-organized and systematically executed plans aimed at total destruction of the Armenian cultural and religious monuments. These attempts, as you well know, are against international law, human rights and the charters adopted by the United Nations and your respected organization.
The Armenian people, who were victims of a genocide organized and executed by the Ottoman-Turkish Empire in 1915, cannot remain indifferent to this cultural genocide. We believe that the protection of historical and cultural monuments and sites is precisely the vocation of UNESCO. Therefore, we urge you to stop this organized crime against the Armenian cultural, religious and historical heritage.
With best wishes,
Prayerfully
ARAM I
CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I STRONGLY CONDEMNS THE ORGANIZED CRIME AGAINST
THE ARMENIAN CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL MONUMENTS
Today in a letter addressed to the Director-General of UNESCO, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, strongly condemned the “cultural genocide” against the Armenian cultural and religious monuments and sites in Nakhichevan and Turkish-occupied territories in Cyprus. His Holiness urges UNESCO to take concrete measures to stop such illegal and immoral attempts.
Hereunder the full text of the letter:
Dear Mr. Matsuura,
This morning we were deeply shocked to learn from our Primates, who serve the Armenian communities in Tehran, Isfahan and Tabriz in the Islamic Republic of Iran that, on the Nakhitchevan side of the river Arax, which separates Iran from Nakhitchevan, Armenian historical and religious monuments (such as stone-crosses and other pieces of art symbolizing the Armenian religious and cultural values), are being destroyed in a well-organized manner. According to reliable sources, eye witness accounts and photos at our disposal, these monuments, after partial or complete destruction, have been thrown into the river.
One cannot remain silent while these historical monuments of profound cultural, archeological and religious importance are being destroyed. In fact, similar attempts have been made three years ago in the same area. Similar attempts, in different ways, have also been made in the occupied territories of Cyprus where the centuries-old Armenian monastery of Saint Magar was transformed into a restaurant. We have informed UNESCO about these activities. Unfortunately, your organization did not take concrete measures to stop these well-organized and systematically executed plans aimed at total destruction of the Armenian cultural and religious monuments. These attempts, as you well know, are against international law, human rights and the charters adopted by the United Nations and your respected organization.
The Armenian people, who were victims of a genocide organized and executed by the Ottoman-Turkish Empire in 1915, cannot remain indifferent to this cultural genocide. We believe that the protection of historical and cultural monuments and sites is precisely the vocation of UNESCO. Therefore, we urge you to stop this organized crime against the Armenian cultural, religious and historical heritage.
With best wishes,
Prayerfully
ARAM I
CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA
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