European Parliament resolution on cultural heritage in Azerbaijan
Date: 2006-02-16
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Azerbaijan, European neighbourhood policy, archaeology, cultural heritage, heritage protection, historic site, protection of minorities

29.11.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 290 E/421

Thursday 16 February 2006

P6_TA(2006)0069

Cultural heritage in Azerbaijan

European Parliament resolution on cultural heritage in Azerbaijan

The European Parliament,

— having regard to its resolutions of 9 June 2005 (1) and 27 October 2005 (2) on Azerbaijan,

— having regard to its resolution of 19 January 2006 on the European Neighbourhood Policy (3),

— having regard to its previous resolutions on the South Caucasus and, in particular, its resolution of
11 March 1999 on support for the peace process in the Caucasus (4) and its recommendation to the
Council of 26 February 2004 on EU policy towards the South Caucasus (5),

— having regard to the Council decision of 14 June 2004 to include both Armenia and Azerbaijan in the
European Neighbourhood Policy, in particular for the purpose of fostering good neighbourly relations,
especially through respect for minorities,

— having regard to the obligations of Armenia and Azerbaijan within the framework of the Council of
Europe, especially through the European Cultural Convention, the revised European Convention for the
Protection of Archaeological Heritage, and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National
Minorities, which they have ratified and undertaken to respect,

— having regard to the Unesco 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the
Event of Armed Conflict and its 1954 Protocol, as applicable to occupied territories, to which both
Armenia and Azerbaijan are party,

— having regard to the 2003 Unesco Declaration concerning the Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heri-
tage, by which the international community recognises the importance of the protection of cultural
heritage and reaffirms its commitment to combat its intentional destruction in any form so that such
cultural heritage may be transmitted to the succeeding generations,

— having regard to the report of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) (6) and the

UN Committee for Human Rights' intermediary report on freedom of worship and religion (7),

— having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas allegations have been made by Armenia that campaigns to destroy the Armenian cemetery at
Djulfa in the region of Nakhichevan were carried out by Azerbaijani forces in November 1998 and
December 2002; whereas the most recent destruction took place in December 2005, as evidenced by
video footage taken by the Armenian authorities,

B. whereas there were numerous reactions by the international community to these actions; whereas
Azerbaijan has not provided answers to inquiries by Mr Abdelfattah Amor, the former special rappor-
teur of the United Nations, concerning the events of November 1998 and December 2002,

C. whereas serious allegations have been raised about the involvement of the Azerbaijani authorities in the

destruction of these monuments,

(1) Text Adopted, P6_TA(2005)0243.
(2) Text Adopted, P6_TA(2005)0411.
(3) Text Adopted, P6_TA(2006)0028.
(4) OJ C 175, 21.6.1999, p. 251.
(5) OJ C 98 E, 23.4.2004, p. 193.
(6) World Report on Monuments and Sites in Danger 2002.
(7) 58th Session of the UN General Assembly, 1/58/296, 19.8.2003.

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Official Journal of the European Union

EN

29.11.2006

Thursday 16 February 2006

D. underlining the exceptional nature of the Djulfa cemetery, which still had 6 000 khatchkars (crosses
carved in stone typical of Armenian religious art) remaining and which testifies to the ethnic and
cultural diversity of the region,

E. whereas the destruction or desecration of any monuments or objects of cultural, religious or national

heritage infringes the principles of the European Union,

F. whereas such destruction is taking place in the context of the suspended conflict between Armenia and

Azerbaijan on the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh,

G. whereas there might soon be a favourable outcome to the negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh and
agreement might be reached on the principles for settling the conflict despite the unproductive meeting
in Rambouillet on 10 and 11 February 2006 between the presidents of Armenia and of Azerbaijan,

H.

recalling that the European Neighbourhood Policy aims to establish a privileged partnership with Arme-
nia and Azerbaijan on the basis of common values,
including the respect for minorities and their
cultural heritage,

1.
Condemns strongly the destruction of the Djulfa cemetery as well as the destruction of all sites of
historical importance that has taken place on Armenian or Azerbaijani territory, and condemns any such
action that seeks to destroy cultural heritage;

2.
Calls on the Council and the Commission to make clear to the governments of Armenia and Azer-
baijan that all efforts must be made to stop the practice of ethnic cleansing, which has led to such destruc-
tion, and to find ways in which to facilitate the gradual return of refugees and displaced people;

3.
Demands that the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan respect their international commitments,
notably as regards cultural heritage, and, in particular, those deriving from the two countries' accession to
the Council of Europe and their inclusion in the European Neighbourhood Policy;

4.
Stresses that respect for minority rights, including historical, religious and cultural heritage is con-
ditional on the genuine and effective development of the European Neighbourhood Policy, which must
also lead to the establishment of good neighbourly relations between all the countries concerned;

5.
Demands that Azerbaijan allow missions, such as experts working with Icomos who are dedicated to
surveying and protecting archaeological heritage, in particular Armenian heritage, onto its territory, and that
it also allow a European Parliament delegation to visit the archaeological site at Djulfa;

6.
Calls on the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan to comply with their international commit-
ments, in particular as regards culture and the safeguarding of cultural heritage, entered into within inter-
national bodies such as Unesco and the Council of Europe, and calls on both countries to do their utmost
to protect archaeological, historical and cultural heritage on their territories in order to prevent the destruc-
tion of other endangered sites;

7.
Invites the Commission and the Council to incorporate a clause on protecting both territories' invalu-
able archaeological or historical sites into the action plans currently being discussed in a European Neigh-
bourhood Policy context;

8.
Invites the Commission and the Council to make the implementation of the European Neighbourhood
Policy action plans conditional upon the respect by Armenia and Azerbaijan for universally accepted prin-
ciples, in particular their obligations as members of the Council of Europe regarding human and minority
rights, and calls on the Commission and the Council to incorporate into these action plans specific provi-
sions for the protection of the cultural heritage of minorities;

9.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Parliaments and
Governments of the Member States, the Government and the President of Armenia, the Government and
the President of Azerbaijan, as well as the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe, the Director-General of Unesco, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.