ArmInfo. Russia is realizing the need for preserving the Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh and is supportive of the initiative to dispatch a UNESCO mission to the region, Maria Zakharova, Spokesperson for the Russian foreign office, told a news briefing as she spoke of Moscow's efforts to preserve the Armenian historical heritage.
"In our contacts with official Yerevan and Baku we are discussing the preservation of cultural heritage. We are for an expeditious UNESCO mission to the region," he said.
Russia, France and the United States have urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to continue cooperating in resolving humanitarian problems under the OSCE auspices, including the protection of cultural heritage.
However, speaking in Armenia's Parliament, FM Ararat Mirzoyan stated that Azerbaijan is seeking to erase all the traces of Armenian historical heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is a manifestation of Baku's policy of ethnic cleansing and anti-Armenian sentiments.
Azerbaijan's attempts are also a challenge to the international justice represented by the World Court, which urged Azerbaijan to prevent vandalism against the Armenian cultural and religious heritage.
He stressed the importance of UNESCO's interference. Armenia has hailed UNESCO's readiness to dispatch its mission to the region. No date has yet been fixed, but the sides are satisfied with the decision.
The visit must be in conformity with the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.