Yesterday RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan participated in the 35th General Conference of UNESCO aimed at discussion of the organization’s activities within next two years. RA Foreign Minister delivered a speech, touching upon the issue of cultural heritage protection.

“We closely cooperate with Iran, that duly looks after the Armenian monuments on its territory. A striking example of this is Iran’s readiness to put St. Thaddeus Monastery in the World Heritage List. This positive initiative is not however found with our other neighbors,” Nalbandyan said.

“Unfortunately, Azerbaijan keeps on vandalizing Armenian heritage despite Armenia’s permanent alerts. Years long violation of the Medieval Armenian cemetery of Jugha (Julfa) in Nakhchivan proves this. In 1998 and 2005 there was no war, but the gigantic monuments were destroyed and Khachkars taken away by pieces under Azerbaijani authorities’ watchful eye,” RA Foreign Minister said, adding that there was no war back in 1975, when Armenian church of 7th century was fully demolished in the center of Nakhchivan to wipe off Armenians’ trace, that were majority of the city decades ago.