ARMENIANS HAVE NO LONGER A HISTORY IN NAKHIJEVAN
Support A1+!The Armenian cemetery of Old Jugha doesn’t exist any more . That cemetery in Julfa City of Sovereign Republic of Nakhijevan was razed to the ground last November.
Historians, clergymen gathered in National Academy of Sciences today. They expressed sorrow for 10000 khachkars of unique esthetical importance don’t exist any longer.
Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanyan took part in the scientific conference. He said that “task for protection of Armenian heritage is one of the most significant issues of our foreign policy as it supports maintenance of our national independence” .
Oskanyan stated he had been informed about destruction of khachkars in Old Jugha in 1998. He had voiced protest. Judging by the photos in Academy corridor, the official protest of our state had no results.
For the second time in 2002 Vartan Oskanyan was caused to be informed about profanation of the cemetery. He applied to UNESCO. According to the Minister, “it was prevented somehow after the appeal” .
In reality the cemetery was not only defiled but also crushed without leaving a trace in 2002 . In the 2nd-floor Hall of NAS there is a photo, made on November 25, 2002. It was made from Irani territory. There is just noting at the territory of Old Jugha cemetery. Another photo made from the same point in 1998 is shown, too. Hundreds of standing khachkars and as many again lying are seen.
Gagik Gyurjyan, head of State Agency for Monument Defence of Armenian Culture Ministry, says Armenian Government appealed to UNESCO in 1998 and defilement of gravestones was stopped.
“We were expecting for an expert group from UNESCO. But changes occurred in leadership of that structure. Taking advantage of the situation, Azeris continued vandalism” , Gyurjyan says.
Today he informed the journalists under the data they possess, nothing is left from cemetery . Agency head thinks “the topic is to be kept hot all the time” .
Mr Gyurjan wants to be there and to study the cemetery territory in the presence of both Azeri and international experts.
