Armenian clergyman reminds minister Armenian authorities`  constitutional obligation to protect Armenian heritage

ArmInfo.  The mission of the state cannot be conditional, and it does not begin or end with political expediency. Archimandrite Ruben Zargaryan wrote this on his Facebook page in response to statements by Armenian Minister of  Social Labor Arsen Torosyan on the Public Television of Armenia that  "the topic of Azerbaijan's destruction of Armenian cultural,  historical, and religious monuments in Artsakh should not be included  in the agenda of relations between Yerevan and Baku."

The cleric recalled that Article 19.2 of the Constitution of the  Republic of Armenia states that the Republic, on the basis of  international law, contributes to the preservation of the Armenian  language, Armenian historical and cultural values, and the  development of Armenian educational and cultural life in other  states.  "Therefore, the state's mission cannot be conditional. It  does not begin or end with political expediency.  Clause 2 of Article  19 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia clearly states: the  state is obligated to contribute to the preservation of the Armenian  language, culture, and historical heritage in other states. This is  not a wish, but an obligation. When a government official states that  'it is wrong to raise such issues during the normalization of  relations with neighbors,' they are effectively saying 'the state is  prepared to temporarily abandon its constitutional obligation,'"  Archimandrite Zargaryan stated.

However, he said, this raises the question: who gave any government  the right to selectively apply the Constitution?

The clergyman stated that if the protection of cultural heritage can  be "removed from the agenda" today, then tomorrow any other right or  obligation can be "removed" by the same logic, justified by the  political situation.

"This is a dangerous precedent. The Constitution does not provide for  'exceptions' based on political expediency. The state cannot abandon  its responsibilities without violating its own fundamental law. Any  government that does so must explain whether it places itself above  the Constitution. If we remain silent when the Constitution is  violated, then tomorrow we will not be able to demand its  protection," Archimandrite Zargaryan emphasized. He called it even  more disgusting that a government official would delegate a  constitutional duty to "the bearers of this cultural and historical  heritage," namely, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, forgetting  that for a year now, a shameful persecution has been unleashed  against this See and its entourage, beginning with an event defending  the interests of the Armenian Church in Switzerland.

Recall that on April 21, it was reported that Azerbaijan had razed  the Surb Astvatsatsin Church to the ground. Days earlier, it was also  reported that the enemy had destroyed the Surb Hakob Church in  Stepanakert. In recent days, Azerbaijan has been actively preparing  the ground for the destruction of one of the symbols of Artsakh-the  "We Are Our Mountains" monument. The cultural genocide in Artsakh is  taking place against the backdrop of the tacit encouragement of the  so-called civilized international community. Day after day, the  Azerbaijani occupiers are destroying sites that testify to the  millennia-long presence of Armenians on this land. It should be noted  that since the occupation of Artsakh, Azerbaijan has completely  destroyed or significantly damaged the following cultural and  religious sites. The Kanach Zham (Surb Hovhannes Mkrtich) Church in  Shushi was completely destroyed in April 2024, the Ghazanchetsots  Cemetery in Shushi was completely destroyed, the village of Karintak  was completely bulldozed, and monuments and busts in Stepanakert,  including those of Charles Aznavour, Hovhannes Aivazovsky, Hovhannes  Tumanyan, and Marshal Baghramyan, were dismantled. The Marshal  Khudyakov Museum in the village of Mets Tager was destroyed.  Currently, approximately 4,000 Armenian cultural sites remain under  Azerbaijani control, including more than 370 churches and 119 ancient  fortresses.