There are no blank pages in our Armenian manuscripts, Matenadaran Director Ara Khzmalyan said, responding to Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev’s display of blank pages in Armenian books in Gandzasar.
Ara Khzmalyan said no original manuscript had ever been transferred to Gandzasar because the site lacked the necessary system for the security and proper preservation of manuscripts, RFE/RL reported.
“Only replicas of manuscripts were displayed at Gandzasar. The original of each of them is preserved at the Matenadaran. The Matenadaran is ready to show them to any diplomat or ambassador who has even a one-percent doubt about their authenticity,” Khzmalyan said.
The Matenadaran director also noted that the oldest Armenian manuscript previously kept at Gandzasar and now preserved at the Matenadaran dates to 909 and is known as the Vehapar Gospel.
The previous day, Hikmet Hajiyev presented what he described as ancient Armenian books to diplomats in the exhibition hall of the Gandzasar. Opening mock-ups of the manuscripts, he showed the diplomats blank pages in the books, prompting laughter from officials present.
