The destruction of Juga khachkars (cross-stones) began as far back as late 1960s, and “it is hopeless to place hopes on UNESCO,” Mkrtich Minasyan, Chairman of the Armenian Union of Architects, told journalists December 16.

Manvel Karapetyan, an expert in monuments, said that there is still a means of preventing further destruction of monuments.

“Something must be done by means of lawsuits. We cannot resolve this problem until we hit the destroyers’ pockets,” Karapetyan said.

According to Minasyan, literature on Armenian monuments in many languages would help Armenia to inform the world of its cultural values. “Azerbaijan is spending huge funds on such literature,” he said.

“Speaking straightforward, the truth is weightier than sponsored lies. Although Azerbaijan tried to deceive UNESCO, it failed,” Karapetyan said.