Declaration on intolerance and xenophobia prevention adopted in Yerevan

PanARMENIAN.Net - 'Tolerance and Xenophobia in the South Caucasus Region' international conference was held in Yerevan on occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Sumgait pogroms. The conference participants adopted a declaration which says in part,



"We realize that provocation of hate and intolerance are threat for the deed of strengthening of democratization both national and international levels and are obstacle for peace and trust building. They also carry new potential of strengthening of inner-ethnic and inner-state conflicts in the South Caucasus region.



"We challenge the participants acting on the name of non-governmental organizations of different states to urge their assemblies and governments to take measures prohibiting the destruction of the cultural heritage in the region which has become of terrible measures and is approved by official authorities of state-breaking. As example may serve the barbarous annihilation of the Armenian medieval cemetery of Old Julfa in Nakhijevan in Azerbaijan."



The 1998 Sumgait pogroms claimed lives of 32 Armenians. Some 20 thousand had to flee their homes.