In response to an urgent inquiry addressed to the European Commission by Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Loucas Fourlas (Cyprus, EPP), High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell condemned, on behalf of the European Commission, the bombing of the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) by the Azerbaijani armed forces, reported the official website of the European “Armenian Cause” office of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party.

The urgent inquiry by MEP Fourlas stated that the Azerbaijani armed forces, in violation of international law of war, targeted and struck the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral on October 8, 2020. The MEP asked the European Commission whether it intends to take steps to protect the civilian population and religious places of worship of Artsakh.

In response to the MEP, the European Commission stated that it strongly condemns the destruction of religious and historical monuments in Artsakh, and stresses the importance of preserving and restoring cultural and religious heritage.

In his response, the High Representative of the European Commission also referred to UN Security Council Resolution 2347 (2017), which defines the targeting of religious, educational, and cultural centers as war crimes.

Also, the European Commission welcomes the mission initiated by UNESCO to the Artsakh regions currently under Azerbaijani control. This mission is aimed at the preliminary documentary assessment of the Armenian cultural heritage there. The mission will also support the preservation and restoration of Armenian cultural sites.