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Anne Derse Stops Short Of Destruction Of Armenian Cemetery InNakhich

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  • Anne Derse Stops Short Of Destruction Of Armenian Cemetery InNakhich

    ANNE DERSE STOPS SHORT OF DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN CEMETERY IN NAKHICHEVAN

    PanARMENIAN.Net
    22.05.2006 18:20 GMT+04:00

    /PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. Ambassador Designate to Azerbaijan Anne Derse
    responded to concerns raised by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) regarding
    Azerbaijan's destruction of the over millennia old Djulfa Armenian
    cemetery in Nakhichevan, but refrained from pledging any concrete
    commitment to investigate the matter, reported the Armenian National
    Committee of America (ANCA).

    Submitting a written response to questions by Sen. Boxer relayed
    during her May 12th Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation
    hearing, Derse noted that the Department of State is "urging the
    relevant Azerbaijani authorities to investigate the allegations of
    desecration of cultural monuments in Nakhichevan and take appropriate
    measures to prevent any desecration of cultural monuments. Armenia and
    Azerbaijan are both members of UNESCO (and OSCE), and Azerbaijan has
    raised these issues in those organizations. We have encouraged Armenia
    and Azerbaijan to work with UNESCO to investigate this incident. If
    I am confirmed, and if such issues arise during my tenure, I will
    communicate our concerns to the Government of Azerbaijan and pursue
    appropriate activities in support of U.S. interests."

    Sen. Boxer had specifically asked if the Ambassador Designate would
    "visit the cemetery site and commit [herself] to investigating the
    demolition of this unique cemetery."

    "We want to thank Senator Boxer for raising Azerbaijan's desecration
    of the Djulfa cemetery with Ambassador Designate Derse," said ANCA
    Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We were deeply troubled by the
    silence of the U.S. Embassy on this issue during the tenure of her
    predecessor, Reno Harnish, and remain hopeful that, despite her
    evasive response, Anne Derse will prove a more vocal and effective
    advocate for the core American values of tolerance and respect for
    cultural heritage. She can start off on the right foot by personally
    visiting Djulfa during her first month in office."

    In December of 2005, approximately 200 Azerbaijani forces were
    videotaped using sledgehammers to demolish the Armenian cemetery in
    Djulfa, a sacred site of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The cemetery
    dates back to the 7th Century and once was home to as many as 10,000
    khatchkars (intricately carved stone-crosses).
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