Deliberate physical attacks on cultural heritage are often figurative assaults on the people who identify with that heritage. This was true in Syria, Bamiyan, Bosnia, and Timbuktu. And it is true in Armenia, where Azerbaijani forces recently attacked the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi, the cultural capital of Artsakh, Armenia.
Ancient cultural heritage is common to us all and must be protected. We call upon the international community to support the work of UNESCO, Blue Shield, the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, and all international organizations in the safe-keeping of cultural heritage as vital to the well-being of populations at risk.
The J. Paul Getty Trust, which through its Getty Conservation Institute has long advanced the conservation of cultural heritage, draws attention to these issues in a series of Occasional Papers in Cultural Heritage Policy, written by authors long involved in the formulation and implementation of the doctrine of the Responsibility to Protect.
In solidarity with Getty’s leadership in standing for the protection and safeguarding of cultural heritage.
Thank you for your statement. Artsakh is rich in Armenian history and culture and we need protection.
Thank you for your efforts to save these ancient churches and monasteries that dot this enclave which attest to the presence of Christian Armenians in this land for
Centuries.
It is important now than ever to protect ancient cultural heritage in the area more than ever as everything is being destroyed and tampered with as of now. Time is of the essence to act now.
L’ensemble de la diaspora arménienne et les peuples d’Artsakh et d’Arménie sont très touchés de votre initiative concernant la préservation de leur patrimoine culturel et vous en remercient très chaleureusement !
En tant que membre de cette diaspora et plus particulièrement en tant que présidente de l’Association arménienne des deux Catalognes (Perpignan – France) je tiens à vous féliciter pour votre engagement dans ces actions essentielles pour l’humanité. Merci encore et encore !
Besides honoring and respecting these historical cultural heritage sites, what is the Getty Trust doing with actions
about the destruction of the Artsakh Treasures?
Dear Mr. Cuno,
As an Armenian heritage woman, I sincerely appreciate the Getty Trust’s statement on protecting Armenian Cultural Heritage monuments in Artsakh.
Ghazanchetsots is a site of immense spiritual significance for Artsakh’s people due to its importance throughout the history of the country’s struggles for self-determination. The loathsome act of attempted to erasing history and its people by destroying historical monuments, tombstones, and churches is a disgrace to all humanity.
Thank you for advocating the safe-keeping of cultural heritage as vital to populations’ well-being at risk.
Sincerely,
Elmira Adamian
Thank you for your work and helping to preserve Armenia culture and history.
Armenian cultural and material heritage is a common of human beings. It needs attention, political efforts, civil and public opinion’s mobilization.