(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 17. The Azerbaijani
State Committee on Religious Associations has made a statement
protesting against the biased resolution of the European Parliament
adopted on March 10, 2022, Trend reports via the committee.
According to the statement, the resolution was prepared under
the influence of the Armenian lobby, doesn't reflect reality, and
contains false Armenian statements.
The statement noted that the resolution nothing mentions the
true situation connected with the fate of Azerbaijani historical
and religious monuments.
So, during the period of Armenian occupation in the territories
of Azerbaijan, 65 out of 67 mosques were destroyed (the Aghdam Juma
mosque was partially preserved due to the fact that it was used by
Armenian armed forces for military purposes, and the Yukhari Govhar
Agha Mosque in Shusha, after the so-called repair, was presented as
a 'Persian' mosque ).
The resolution also mentions nothing about the ethnic cleansing
and genocide against Azerbaijanis by Armenia, the Armenization of
Azerbaijani toponyms, the destruction, along with hundreds of
historical and cultural monuments, mosques and other shrines, the
desecration of religious values, the facts of the Gregorianization
or destruction of Albanian churches, in general, about the
vandalism against the religious and cultural heritage of
Azerbaijan.
Besides, nearly 900 cemeteries were completely destroyed,
tombstones were broken, and graves were excavated with the
desecration of the remains. Azerbaijani citizens were deprived of
the opportunity to visit the graves of their loved ones for 30
years.
The committee's statement once again highlighted the fact that
during the 2020 second Karabakh war, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces
didn't conduct any military operations against civilians, as well
as religious facilities, which was repeatedly confirmed by foreign
journalists.
'Following the second Karabakh war, the Azerbaijani government
announced its intention to restore all religious monuments
destroyed by the Armenian Armed Forces in the territories liberated
from Armenian occupation during the war, and this process is
already being carried out as part of the socio-economic development
of these territories on the basis of the 'Great Return' program,'
the statement said.
Besides, according to the committee's statement, the Azerbaijani
side has repeatedly stated that the protection of historical and
religious monuments in the territory of Azerbaijan, including the
liberated lands, is the responsibility of the Azerbaijani
state.
The statement further said that the ongoing restoration of two
churches, along with mosques, in Shusha, is a clear indicator of
Azerbaijan's respectful attitude towards other cultures and
religions.
“Azerbaijan, unlike Armenia, doesn't discriminate against
historical and cultural heritage on religious and ethnic grounds
and is committed to its obligations under international
conventions, including the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection
of Cultural Property in Time of Armed Conflict,” the statement
emphasized.“However, the Armenian side violates, along with this
Convention, the requirements of the 'International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights', the European Convention of 1992 'On
the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage' and other
international documents.”
The statement also reminded that following the video meeting
held on February 4, 2022, with the participation of the President
of Azerbaijan, the President of France as the chairmanship of this
country in the EU, President of the Council of the EU and the Prime
Minister of Armenia, an agreement was reached to send a UNESCO
mission to Azerbaijan and Armenia.
According to the statement, the above agreement is a
confirmation of the need to study the state of the cultural
heritage belonging to the Azerbaijani people on the territory of
Armenia.
In conclusion, the committee's statement expressed regret that
the resolution of the European Parliament didn't mention all the
facts.
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