ID :
102996
Thu, 01/28/2010 - 00:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/102996
The shortlink copeid
BAKU HOSTS CONFERENCE ON PROTECTION OF CULTURAL PROPERTY DURING ARMED CONFLICTS
Baku, 27 January (AzerTAc). Azerbaijan`s ministry of culture and tourism and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) today have co-organized here a conference called “protection of cultural property during armed conflicts”.
Participants of the event include local governmental officials, representatives of ICRC and experts from various countries.
The goal of the conference was to draw attention to state of implementation of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Forces and to allow the participants to share ideas and experience.
Speaking at the event, Minister of culture and tourism Abulfaz Garayev updated the participants about works the ministry has done to protect cultural monuments in Azerbaijan.
The minister stressed importance of the subject of the conference for his country, saying “occupation of Azerbaijan`s lands by Armenians resulted in demolition of hundreds of cultural properties, including 927 libraries, 25 museums, 4 theatres, 85 schools of music, 4 picture-galleries.”
Garayev added “today a number of undestroyed historical and cultural monuments in occupied territories of Azerbaijan is 566 and 13 of them are known across the world”.
The minister stated the biased destruction of Azerbaijan`s historical and cultural properties contradicts provisions of various international conventions, including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Forces, the 1992 European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage and the 1972 UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
However, Garayev said, despite appeals to UNESCO, UN and several other international organizations, nothing is done for the protection of memorials in occupied lands.
"All monuments should be moved to safe places to avoid their destruction", the Minister noted.
The speaker also praised efforts of the Azerbaijani leader and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva to protect the country`s cultural heritage.
Other speakers, including Toon Vandenhove, chief of the ICRC mission in Azerbaijan and Pascale Meige Wagner, head of the ICRC Operations for Eastern Europe and Central Asia also hailed works done by the government in this regard.
Participants of the event include local governmental officials, representatives of ICRC and experts from various countries.
The goal of the conference was to draw attention to state of implementation of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Forces and to allow the participants to share ideas and experience.
Speaking at the event, Minister of culture and tourism Abulfaz Garayev updated the participants about works the ministry has done to protect cultural monuments in Azerbaijan.
The minister stressed importance of the subject of the conference for his country, saying “occupation of Azerbaijan`s lands by Armenians resulted in demolition of hundreds of cultural properties, including 927 libraries, 25 museums, 4 theatres, 85 schools of music, 4 picture-galleries.”
Garayev added “today a number of undestroyed historical and cultural monuments in occupied territories of Azerbaijan is 566 and 13 of them are known across the world”.
The minister stated the biased destruction of Azerbaijan`s historical and cultural properties contradicts provisions of various international conventions, including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Forces, the 1992 European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage and the 1972 UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
However, Garayev said, despite appeals to UNESCO, UN and several other international organizations, nothing is done for the protection of memorials in occupied lands.
"All monuments should be moved to safe places to avoid their destruction", the Minister noted.
The speaker also praised efforts of the Azerbaijani leader and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva to protect the country`s cultural heritage.
Other speakers, including Toon Vandenhove, chief of the ICRC mission in Azerbaijan and Pascale Meige Wagner, head of the ICRC Operations for Eastern Europe and Central Asia also hailed works done by the government in this regard.
