The member of the RA NA delegation to PACE Sona Ghazaryan made a report at PACE Session going on in Strasbourg.
In her report the MP said:
“First and foremost, I would like to extend my gratitude to Yevghenia for the comprehensive report. This report has been thoroughly discussed in our committee through various formats and with the participation of a diverse group of stakeholders. The information presented by the Prosecutor General of Ukraine concerning the destruction of historical monuments in Ukraine is particularly significant and deserves our utmost attention.
The preservation of all historical and cultural monuments is our collective responsibility, regardless of their cultural or national origin, because it is about safeguarding our shared world history.
The destruction of historical and cultural monuments during wars has one goal: the destruction of cultural identity, with the further intention to falsify history. In 2020, we witnessed the targeted destruction of St. Ghazanchetsots Church on two separate occasions.
Yevghenia referred to the destruction of historical and cultural identity in Belarus, Ukraine, and the South Caucasus during the wars. I would like to clarify a point for my colleagues. I believe that the protection of Muslim mosques in Armenia is the responsibility of the state. When it comes to the mosques, I must emphasize that in Yerevan, in the heart of the city, the largest Iranian mosque has been renovated and is under state protection.
Additionally, the mosque in the Kond district was mentioned during the discussions and in the explanatory. I want to inform you that there are two significant religious monuments in the Kond district: one is the mosque, and the other is a Christian chapel. Both are currently in a state of disrepair. However, they have been registered in the state registry, and the state conducts annual photographic documentation to prevent further damage. In the new project for the Kond district these monuments will be preserved, and their former state will be restored.
I would also like to draw your attention to one form of identity elimination practiced by the Soviet Union. This concerns the demolition of the Poghos-Petros (Paul and Peter) Church in the centre of Yerevan The church was completely demolished in the 1930s by the decision of the Soviet authorities. According to the logic of the general report, this serves as a clear example of the USSR’s efforts to erase cultural identity.
