Ethnographer: UN stand on Armenian refugees and UNESCO's attitude to Armenian khachkars similar

PanARMENIAN.Net - Ethnographer Hranush Kharatyan drew a parallel between the UN stand on the Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan and the attitude of UNESCO towards Armenian khachkars.

“The UN shuts its eyes to refugee problems like UNESCO dissembles destruction of Armenian khachkars in Nakhijevan,” the ethnographer told a press conference dated to the World Refugee Day.

She criticized UNESCO severely for removing the quotations indicating the place of origin of khachkars, the photos of which have been displayed at the exhibition Khachkar Craftsmanship in France.

Kharatyan also spoke about the Armenian authorities paying no attention to the problems of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan, reminding, particularly, of President Serzh Sargsyan announcement saying “Armenia does not have political problem of refugees”. “Refugees are compelled to adopt Armenian citizenship having refused from their status, and 80 thous. of them already become Armenian citizens,” according to her.

On June 15, a photo exhibition titled Khachkar Craftsmanship- Armenian Cross-Stones Art opened in Paris in the framework of scientific conferences organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). On Nov 17, 2010, UNESCO decided to inscribe Armenian Cross-Stones Art, symbolism and Craftsmanship of Khachkars on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. On the opening day of the exhibition, the guests faced an unpleasant surprise. The attendees were embarrassed to see that the quotations indicating the place of origin of each Khachkhar (cross-stone), had been removed without any clarification on the part of organizers of the event. Only dates were indicated under the photos. The UNESCO flag which was fastened near the Armenian flag disappeared as well.

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