Monday, July 12 2021 17:30

ArmInfo. Europa Nostra and the European Association of Archaeologists have issued a joint statement over the holistic protection of the integrity, authenticity, and  diversity of the rich multicultural heritage in and around the area  of Nagorno Karabakh.

According to the message received by ArmInfo, the statement reads, in  part: "We, representatives of EUROPA NOSTRA and the European  Association of Archaeologists - two large European non-governmental  organizations committed to the promotion and protection of cultural  heritage that are also active members of the European Heritage  Alliance and that collaborate closely with the European Union, the  Council of Europe and UNESCO - wish to reiterate our joint commitment  to the holistic preservation of the integrity, authenticity and  diversity of the rich cultural heritage which is located in the  Caucasus region and which is the expression of a multicultural and  multireligious past and present of this region and of Europe as a  whole.

We therefore deplore and condemn any act of damage, destruction or  distortion of cultural heritage sites, which has happened as a  consequence of a conflict or of the lack of respect for any of the  cultures that have flourished in the Caucasus region, and in  particular in and around the area internationally known as  Nagorno-Karabakh. Referring to many international and European  documents, we wish to recall that such acts are clearly not  acceptable and unlawful.

We firmly believe in the essential value of cultural heritage as a  vital resource and responsibility for present generations to pass on  to future ones. We recognize and celebrate the cultural diversities  as they are represented in our shared heritage; these can help in  building bridges of mutual respect and understanding above ethnic or  religious divides, as a critical element of building lasting peace.   We are thus convinced that any destruction of heritage, or any  distortion and/or misconstruction of (art) history has the opposite  effect, often setting the ground for renewed cycles of mistrust,  conflict and even violence.

As European heritage networks that collaborate closely and fruitfully  with the European Union we therefore applaud and endorse the  Conclusions recently adopted by the Council of the European Union  welcoming the EU Concept on cultural heritage in conflicts and  crises, which enhances the EU's approach to promoting peace,  security, democracy and sustainable development.

More specifically, we welcome the Resolution RC-B9-0277/2021 adopted  by the European Parliament on 21 May 2021 in response to the latest  conflict in the region. We especially endorse its article 16 which  states that the European Parliament "Strongly insists that both  parties refrain from any actions destroying Armenian heritage in  Azerbaijan and Azeri heritage in Armenia; calls for the full  restoration of demolished sites and for greater involvement of the  international community in protecting world heritage in the region"  as well as its article 21 which states that the European Parliament  "Calls on the European Commission and the Member States to continue  supporting the provision of urgent humanitarian assistance and the  work of international organizations in this area and on the  protection of cultural and religious heritage, as well as to support  civil society organizations in Armenia and Azerbaijan that genuinely  contribute to reconciliation".

In the light of the above,

As a matter of urgent priority, due to alarming allegations by  various parties of deliberate damage, destruction and/or distortion  of cultural heritage which has happened in and around the area of  Nagorno-Karabakh, we call for an impartial European/international  team of experts to access the region in order to conduct a  comprehensive and objective scientific survey of the rich and diverse  cultural heritage in this area, with a related assessment of its  state of conservation.  We are convinced that this will be in the  best interest of both Azerbaijan and Armenia, their people and their  culture, as well as of the rest of Europe and Humanity.

More generally, we urge Azerbaijan and Armenia to collaborate and  live up to their commitments, responsibilities and international  obligations on the basis of the Trilateral Statement ending the  recent hostilities which they co-signed with the Russian Federation  on 9 November 2020 as well as on the basis of key international and  European documents related to cultural heritage signed by these two  countries.

We also urge UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE-Minsk group  to join forces in encouraging and assisting positive efforts towards  the holistic safeguard of the endangered multicultural and  multireligious heritage in the affected area.

As far as the European Union is concerned, we invite EU Institutions  and Member States to apply to the area of Nagorno-Karabakh the  principles of the above-mentioned EU Council Conclusions and adopt  concrete positive measures in line with the related EU Concept Paper  on Cultural Heritage in Conflicts and Crises.

Last but not least, we offer our extensive heritage expertise and  experience to contribute to the due protection of the integrity,  authenticity and diversity of the rich cultural heritage in and  around the area of Nagorno-Karabakh, as in other regions of the  Caucasus. We are willing to work with all stakeholders concerned to  help use cultural heritage (tangible and intangible) as a bridge  between various communities and as a vector for (re)building respect,  confidence and dialogue as prerequisites for a lasting peace and  prosperity in the wider region".