The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has strongly condemned statements made by Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev during his recent visit to the Gandzasar and Dadivank monastic complexes, in which he denied the Armenian identity of the holy sites and presented them as Caucasian Albanian.
The Mother See described as regrettable and concerning the involvement of diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan in spreading falsehoods.
“These attempts to distort historical realities for political expediency constitute outright falsification and an encroachment on the Armenian people’s historical memory and spiritual heritage. This conduct is an undisguised manifestation of the anti-Armenian policy pursued by the Azerbaijani authorities.
“This latest propaganda visit is aimed at misleading the international community. Particularly regrettable and concerning is the fact that foreign diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan and representatives of international organizations are being involved in spreading historical falsehoods.
“The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin expects them to give an appropriate assessment of the distortion of the identity of Armenian holy sites, encroachments on Artsakh’s spiritual and cultural heritage and anti-Armenian policies, and not, through their participation, contribute to justifying the policy of appropriating Armenian historical heritage,” the statement said.
It noted that the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church has repeatedly warned that, following the forced depopulation of Artsakh of its Armenian population, the Azerbaijani authorities have pursued a policy of appropriating historical monuments, destroying Armenian holy sites, khachkars and cemeteries, and eliminating documentary evidence attesting to their identity. Hajiyev’s statements were described as the latest manifestation of this policy.
It also noted that the continuing encroachments on Artsakh’s Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage should receive an appropriate assessment from the Armenian authorities and prompt effective steps aimed at preventing them.
“The Mother See calls on friendly states, relevant international and national organizations to make every effort to prevent the further destruction and appropriation of ancient Armenian Christian heritage.
“Establishing lasting peace in the region requires respect for peoples’ faith, historical memory and fundamental rights. Preserving Artsakh’s spiritual heritage intact and ensuring the rights of the Armenian Church and the people who created it constitute an inalienable international obligation,” the statement said.
Representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan were taken on a tour of territories in Artsakh accompanied by Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev. Hajiyev presented Gandzasar and Dadivank as Caucasian Albanian.
EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Magdalena Grono also took part in the visit. The following day in Yerevan, she said she did not dispute the “Armenian presence and rich legacy in the areas of Karabakh affected by the former conflict.”
