UNESCO expresses its deep concern over the continuing escalation of violence in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone according the UN Secretary General statement (5 october, 2020). The escalation has led to an increase in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, including schools, cultural and religious sites, threats the safety of journalists. The website of the RA Ministry of Education and Science informs about this.
UNESCO calls on all parties to comply with international humanitarian law, in particular the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. UNESCO also calls on all parties to refrain from any attack or harm to children, teachers, educational staff or schools. UNESCO is ready to provide the necessary assistance within its mandate to support the fulfillment of these commitments and obligations.
To remind - From the first days of the war unleashed by Azerbaijan, the RA Minister of Education and Science Arayik Harutyunyan wrote letters to UNESCO condemning the targeting of educational institutions, civic infrastructure and cultural heritage, in particular, the shelling of the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Church in Shushi.
