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Armenian Culture Ministry fails to respond to UNESCO's `civilized vandalism'
June 17, 2011 - 17:23 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Ministry of Culture sent no official note
to UNESCO to protest removal of sings indicating original location of
khachkars, the photos of which were featured at Khachkar Craftsmanship
exhibit in UNESCO headquarters.
As the head of PR department at Armenian Ministry of Culture Nelly
Durgaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, the incident outraged
Armenian community of France as well as the French public, yet
Armenian side has so far issued no statement to UNESCO on the
incident.
On June 15, a photo exhibition titled Khachkar Craftsmanship opened in
Paris in the framework of scientific conferences organized by the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO). On the opening day of the exhibition hosting the Armenian
Deputy Minister of Culture and Armenian Ambassador in France Vigen
Tchitetchian, the guests faced an unpleasant surprise. The attendees
were embarrassed to see that the quotations indicating the place of
origin of each Khachkar (cross-stone), had been removed without any
clarification on the part of organizers of the event. Only dates were
indicated under the photos. Armenian organizations of France and
Switzerland vigorously protested against attempts to deny the cultural
heritage of Armenia.
Hay Dat French Bureau expressed outrage over the unpleasant occurrence
at Paris-hosted Khachkar Craftsmanship exhibit, where the signs
describing original location of khachkars were removed.
As Hay Dat stressed in its statement, the `civilized vandalism' of
UNECSO, inconsistent with the Organisation's mission, arose strong
protest in France's Armenian community. As the statement said, such
attitude will be responded by the community accordingly. `The incident
proves the involvement of Azerbaijan and Turkey. By yielding to
political pressure, UNESCO stained its good name,' the statement
stressed.
On Nov 17, 2010, UNESCO decided to inscribe Armenian Cross-Stones Art,
symbolism and Craftsmanship of Khachkars on the Representative List of
the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Taking into
consideration the fact that Khachkar is the acting tradition for all
Armenians, its inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage provides grounds for maintenance and
transition of knowledge, rituals, traditions and craftsmanship
connected with Khachkars to next generations.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan attempted to protest the decision and claimed
that Kachkars `are not Armenian.'
June 17, 2011 - 17:23 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Ministry of Culture sent no official note
to UNESCO to protest removal of sings indicating original location of
khachkars, the photos of which were featured at Khachkar Craftsmanship
exhibit in UNESCO headquarters.
As the head of PR department at Armenian Ministry of Culture Nelly
Durgaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, the incident outraged
Armenian community of France as well as the French public, yet
Armenian side has so far issued no statement to UNESCO on the
incident.
On June 15, a photo exhibition titled Khachkar Craftsmanship opened in
Paris in the framework of scientific conferences organized by the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO). On the opening day of the exhibition hosting the Armenian
Deputy Minister of Culture and Armenian Ambassador in France Vigen
Tchitetchian, the guests faced an unpleasant surprise. The attendees
were embarrassed to see that the quotations indicating the place of
origin of each Khachkar (cross-stone), had been removed without any
clarification on the part of organizers of the event. Only dates were
indicated under the photos. Armenian organizations of France and
Switzerland vigorously protested against attempts to deny the cultural
heritage of Armenia.
Hay Dat French Bureau expressed outrage over the unpleasant occurrence
at Paris-hosted Khachkar Craftsmanship exhibit, where the signs
describing original location of khachkars were removed.
As Hay Dat stressed in its statement, the `civilized vandalism' of
UNECSO, inconsistent with the Organisation's mission, arose strong
protest in France's Armenian community. As the statement said, such
attitude will be responded by the community accordingly. `The incident
proves the involvement of Azerbaijan and Turkey. By yielding to
political pressure, UNESCO stained its good name,' the statement
stressed.
On Nov 17, 2010, UNESCO decided to inscribe Armenian Cross-Stones Art,
symbolism and Craftsmanship of Khachkars on the Representative List of
the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Taking into
consideration the fact that Khachkar is the acting tradition for all
Armenians, its inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage provides grounds for maintenance and
transition of knowledge, rituals, traditions and craftsmanship
connected with Khachkars to next generations.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan attempted to protest the decision and claimed
that Kachkars `are not Armenian.'