Western Azerbaijan Community

We, the Western Azerbaijan Community, strongly condemn and reject the statement made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan at the Forum of Ancient Civilizations. At this event, Minister Mirzoyan, claiming that the "Armenian cultural heritage" in Azerbaijan is allegedly under threat, made a provocative statement.

This statement, full of slander, at the same time testifies to Armenia's ongoing territorial claims against Azerbaijan. The use of the expression "Nagorno-Karabakh" by the head of the Armenian MFA shows that his country only verbally recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

Considering the complete and systematic destruction of the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan by Armenia both on its territory and in the once occupied Azerbaijani lands, this country's current speculation around the issue of cultural heritage is a manifestation of hypocrisy.

As for the call by the head of the Armenian MFA to send a UNESCO mission, it should be emphasized that such a mission should be sent not to Azerbaijan, but to Armenia. Unfortunately, due to Armenia's refusal, the UNESCO mission to this country has not yet taken place.

We demand that Armenia show respect for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, give consent to send a UNESCO mission there to assess the state of the cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people in this country, and take the necessary measures to restore, protect and preserve the destroyed Azerbaijani monuments.