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UNESCO adopts document on protection of cultural heritage in occupied territories

19 December 2013 19:45 (UTC+04:00)
UNESCO adopts document on protection of cultural heritage in occupied territories

By Sara Rajabova

UNESCO adopted a document on the protection of cultural property in the occupied territories.

The document was adopted at the eighth session of the UNESCO committee on the protection of cultural property during armed conflicts in Paris on December 18, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported.

Azerbaijan initiated discussions on the protection of cultural property in the occupied territories in the committee in 2012, demanding the preparation of the relevant document on the protection of cultural property in the occupied territories by the Secretariat according to this year's decision.

This year's document reflects Hague Convention in1954 on the protection of cultural property during armed conflicts and the legal analysis of the provisions of two protocols of the Convention regarding the occupied territories, the implementation mechanisms of these provisions, and other aspects fitting the interests of the country.

The document also points to the possibility of UNESCO technical mission's visit to the occupied territories in order to monitor the state of cultural values.

Despite Armenia's attempts to prevent UNESCO from sending missions to Azerbaijan's occupied territories, it was possible to adopt the document.

A large number of committee members supported the inclusion of items in the document that meet the interests of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan was also elected as the Vice-president of the committee for protection of cultural property at the UNESCO committee session.

Over 350 cultural monuments, cemeteries, and mosques are left in the Azerbaijani lands occupied by Armenia.

Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. Armenia constantly violates a ceasefire agreement signed with Azerbaijan in 1994 and refuses to implement the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

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