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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).
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).