Armenia stands firmly behind UNESCO`s endeavors to protect cultural  heritage, especially in regions affected by conflicts and natural  disasters - Ararat Mirzoyan

ArmInfo. Below are remarks by Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan at the 42nd session of  the UNESCO General Conference

At the outset, I would like to congratulate H.E. Ms. Simona-Mirela  Miculescu on her election as President of the 42nd session of the  General Conference, and wish every success in her responsible  mission. I also want to express my sincere appreciation to H.E. Mr.  Irazabal Mourao for his excellent work during his tenure as President  of the 41st session of the General Conference.

The persistent challenges that the world faces today, ranging from  armed conflicts to the impacts of climate change, underscore the  imperative to redouble our joint efforts in all the fields of  competence of UNESCO.

Therefore, we support UNESCO's future strategic orientations and  programmatic priorities, in particular in the field of right to  education for all, cultural rights, freedom of expression, and the  fight against racism, discrimination, intolerance and hate speech.

As a member of the Executive Board, Armenia will further contribute  to the successful implementation of programs in favour of the Global  Priorities Africa and Gender Equality, as well as priority groups -  Youth and Small Island Developing States.

As a co-chair of the Group of Friends of Small Island Developing  States, we will continue to support the implementation of Operational  Strategy to address the systemic vulnerabilities of this group of  states.

Armenia stands firmly behind UNESCO's endeavors to protect cultural  heritage, especially in the regions affected by conflicts and natural  disasters and condemns any attacks on cultural symbols due to their  diverse origins or identities.

In this regard, Armenia reiterates its commitment to further  contribute to the restoration of Iraqi documentary heritage in the  framework of UNESCO's flagship initiative "Revive the spirit of  Mosul".

2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the 1954 Hague Convention and this  landmark occasion creates an important momentum for renewing the  commitment of the international community for protection of cultural  property during armed conflicts. Armenia stands ready to contribute  to observation of this important anniversary.

Amid our shared struggle to maintain the fragile peace in various  corners of the world, while promoting the values of living together,  it is with deep concern that I draw your attention to the dire  situation in our region.

The 10 month-long blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan,  humanitarian crisis, absence of food, medicine, gas and electricity  supplies and, as a culmination, the large-scale military offensive  and indiscriminate targeting of the civilian population and  infrastructure resulted in forcible displacement and ethnic cleansing  of the entire indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh,  leaving behind their homes, shrines and the millennia-old cultural  and religious heritage.

Armenia is currently facing a massive influx of more than 100 000  refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh, among them 30 thousand children, who  fled their ancestral homeland in just a few days, under the fear of  persecution and atrocity crimes. The Government of Armenia, in  cooperation with the international organizations and partner states,  has undertaken a number of measures to address the life-saving,  protection and early recovery needs of the refugees. In this regard,  I wish to extend Armenia's gratitude to the UNESCO and its  Director-General for the rapid deployment of the UNESCO emergency  mission to Armenia for the assessment of educational needs of refugee  children.

With regard to the cultural and religious heritage left in  Nagorno-Karabakh, its protection from vandalism and looting is  crucial. Since the fall of 2020 the Republic of Armenia has  consistently alerted the international community on Azerbaijan's  state-led policy of destruction, desecration and appropriation of the  vast religious and cultural heritage in and around Nagorno-Karabakh.

The legally binding order on the Provisional Measures issued by the  International Court of Justice on 7 December 2021, compels Azerbaijan  to "take all necessary measures to prevent and punish acts of  vandalism and desecration affecting Armenian cultural heritage,  including but not limited to churches and other places of worship,  monuments, landmarks, cemeteries and artefacts".

Deployment of UNESCO's independent fact-finding mission to  Nagorno-Karabakh with the view of independent monitoring and mapping  of the Armenian cultural heritage is a key prerequisite to prevent  destruction or distortion of the Armenian cultural property, as was  the case with the complete annihilation of the Armenian cultural  heritage in Nakhijevan between 1997-2006.

In conclusion, I would like to stress Armenia's unwavering support to  the Organization in its efforts to foster a culture of peace and  tolerance anchored on upholding and promoting human rights.

Thank you.