NEWS

 The First Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Acting Minister of Culture Anar Karimov addressed an appeal to UNESCO Director-General Odre Azuley, ISESCO Director-General Salim M. Al-Malik and UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Angel Moratinos.  The appeal notes that since September 27 of this year, the Armenian armed forces have committed military provocations on the frontline and fired on Azerbaijani settlements. As a result of heavy artillery fire on settlements, civilians were killed and wounded, as well as civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, various structures, including material and cultural heritage were damaged.  The appeal stressed the importance of unconditional implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884 on the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, noting that Armenia’s targeting of civilian population and infrastructure and historical monuments is a gross violation of international humanitarian law, including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Second Protocol, signed in 1999; the 1972 UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage; 1949 Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols on the Protection of Civilians in Military Conflicts; 1992 European Convention on the Protection of Archaeological Heritage, and other norms of international law, which is an indication of the country’s continuing aggressive policy.  At the end of the appeal, Anar Karimov called on these international organizations to condemn Armenia’s actions, which run contrary to international law, and to end the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia.

The house of Mir Mohsun Navvab, a prominent Azerbaijani poet, artist, calligrapher and musicologist, located in the historic Mamayi neighborhood of Shusha, was one of the architectural examples of the 19th century. In 1990, the house-museum of Mir Mohsun Navvab was opened here. Exhibits about the life and work of Mir Mohsun Navvab were displayed in the museum. Among them were his typewriter, telescope, paintings drawn by him and items proving his printing activity. As a result of the occupation of Shusha by the Armenian Armed Forces, the museum building and exhibits were destroyed.

In 1989, the memorial museum of the bayati (a kind of Azerbaijani poem created by people) master Sari Ashiq lived in the 17th century, was opened in Gulabird village of Lachin region. At that time, a total of 150 items reminiscent of Sari Ashiq were handed over to the museum. The monument of Sari Ashiq was erected there. The main activity of the museum was to work for the preservation of the memorized bayatis, sayings of Sari Ashiq, originally from the village of Gulabird, and to pass them on to future generations. As a result of the occupation of Lachin region by the Armenian Armed Forces in 1992, the museum building and nearly 200 exhibits were destroyed and plundered.

Under the auspices of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation the book entitled "International treaties on the South Caucasus in the 19th-20th centuries and the resettlement of Armenians" ("Международные договоры по Южному Кавказу в XIX-XX вв. и переселение армян") has been published in Russian. The author of the book is the Azerbaijani Ambassador, doctor of law, Professor Namig Aliyev.

The book shows the historical background that led to the signing of the Kurekchay, Gulustan, Turkmenchay, Moscow and Kars treaties, as well as reveals their political and legal essence and consequences for Azerbaijan.

Based on reliable sources, the author gave a historical and legal analysis of the facts concerning the expansion of Armenians to the South Caucasus, as well as the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, including the lands of Nagorno - Karabakh currently occupied by Armenia.

The author's research allows to understand the deep origins of today's events that unfolded around Karabakh, to recreate the overall picture of the policy of resettlement of Armenians to the historical lands of Azerbaijan.

The International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation attaches particular importance to the study and research of historical documents, the survey, protection and promotion of the rich Turkic culture and heritage in the international arena.

The mansion of the Hajigululars (inv. 341) is located in the central part of Shusha city. This three-storey building, like all luxurious mansions, reflects the national architectural style in both exterior and interior. The mansion was founded in 1849 by the merchant Gulu Mahammadali oglu. During the occupation of Shusha by the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia in 1992, the mansion of the Hajigululars was shelled and its walls were destroyed. Today only the ruins of a mansion, consisting of the outer walls, remain.

Aghdam Juma Mosque (inv. 202) was built between 1868-1870. The are two minarets in this mosque built by Karbalai Safikhan Garabaghi. While the building itself is made of stone, the minarets rising from the corners of the facade are made of brick. After the occupation of Aghdam by the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia in 1993, the Aghdam Juma Mosque, like other historical monuments, was burned and severely damaged. The current state of the mosque once again demonstrates the violation of the “1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict“ by the Republic of Armenia.

In 1983, the house-museum of Bulbul, the founder of Azerbaijan's professional vocal art, was inaugurated in the house where he was born and spent his childhood in Shusha. Bulbul's personal belongings, photos and documents depicting his life and activity were exhibited in the museum. After the occupation of Shusha by Armenians on May 8, 1992, the museum discontinued its function, and all the exhibits were destroyed and looted by the enemy.

As reported earlier, on October 4, by the order of the military-political leadership of Armenia, the Armenian armed forces fired from heavy artillery at Ganja, the second largest city in Azerbaijan, the center of ancient history and culture. As a result, 1 civilian was killed, 32 people were injured, civilian objects, residential buildings, various structures of the city, including a state-protected historical monument (inv. 3838) were severely damaged. There are 195 state-registered immovable monuments of history and culture in Ganja. Of these monuments, 1 is an archaeological monument of world importance, 15 - architecture of national importance, 3 - garden-park, monumental and memorial monuments of national importance, 169 - of the architecture of local significance, 6 - garden-park, monumental and memorial monuments of local importance, 1 is an example of decorative-applied art. “Old Ganja“ (Middle Ages), taken under state protection as an archaeological monument of world importance, located on the territory of the Ganja State Historical and Cultural Reserve, architectural monuments of national importance, such as the Imamzadeh complex (XVII-XIX centuries), Ugurlu khan and Shah Abbas caravanserais (XVII-XVIII centuries), Ganja fortress and fortress walls (XV-XVI centuries) located on the banks of the Ganja river testify to the rich cultural heritage of the city. Known for centuries as a cultural center on the Great Silk Road, Ganja has contributed to the world's cultural heritage with the great poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi, the prominent poet Makhsati Ganjavi, whose 900th anniversary was celebrated at the UNESCO level in 2013, and many other famous artists, composers and architects. Despite numerous warnings issued by Azerbaijan through relevant international organizations, Armenia's continued targeting of civilians, civilian objects and historical monuments is a violation of international humanitarian law, including the 1954 UNESCO Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, 1972 UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1949 Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, 1992 European Convention for the Protection of Archaeological Heritage and gross violations of other norms of international law are an indication of the country's continuing aggressive policy. By firing rockets at the ancient city of Ganja, the center of Azerbaijan's historical and cultural heritage, Armenia is targeting not only Azerbaijan, but also the world's cultural heritage and universal values, once again demonstrating its long-standing policy of vandalism. The fact that the head of the so-called regime in Nagorno-Karabakh demonstratively took responsibility for the shelling of Ganja is yet another confirmation of the hypocritical policy of the Armenian side.

Declaration of the Secretary General of the International Organization of Turkic Culture TURKSOY The Secretary General of the International Organization of Turkic Culture TURKSOY, Mr. Dusen Kasseinov hereby expresses his deep sorrow regarding the increasing tensions as well as concerning the civil victims of the armed conflicts on the territory of Azerbaijan under occupation. Secretary General Kasseinov stresses that with reference to the importance of fundamental norms and principles of international law, it is paramount for this problem to be solved within the framework of international decisions made in this respect and more particularly upon enforcement of decisions of the UN Security Council approved in 1993 as soon as possible so as to put an end to the afore-mentioned unlawfulness. On behalf of artists and intellectuals of the Turkic World, Mr. Kasseinov hereby further expresses his wish as to the fact that conflicts currently occurring on this sacred and historical territory of Azerbaijan shall be replaced by peace, justice and the revival of humanitarian values. Finally, Mr. Kasseinov hereby expresses his most sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the victims who lost their lives in the above-mentioned attacks and wishes a swift recovery to those who suffered injuries therein. May the victims of these assaults rest in peace.

The Lachin Museum of History and Ethnography, rich in exhibits of high artistic and historical value, was founded in 1979. More than 5,000 exhibits were collected in the main fund of the museum and, together with the auxiliary fund, the museum had a total of about 10,000 items. As a result of the occupation of the city of Lachin by Armenia in 1992, the museum building was razed to the ground, museum exhibits were destroyed and looted. More than five thousand valuable exhibits were pillaged and smuggled to the Republic of Armenia and now the stolen exhibits of the Lachin Historical and Ethnographic Museum are exhibited in a number of countries “as samples of Armenian culture.“ The museum has resumed its activities in Baku. The museum is mainly engaged in collecting, and so far 1089 items have been included in the museum's fund.