Naira Zohrabyan Insists that PACE Follows Its Decisions and Sends Observers Mission to Jugha
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YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS: At today’s sitting of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), Naira Zohrabyan, member of the Armenian delegation, made a report on “Inter-Religious and Inter-Cultural Tolerance”.
Naira Zohrabyan said today in an interview with Armenpress that she raised the issue of cultural vandalism in Jugha and mentioned that the barbarians, the religious and political intolerance of which brought to cultural genocide, has not been punished yet. Naira Zohrabyan asked the PACE how the establishment must promote the respect towards religious pluralism.
“I presented facts on Azerbaijan’s consecutive destruction of the Armenian historical cemetery in Jugha, Nakhijevan in 1998 and of the oldest cemetery, which is one of the unique values of humanity, that the Azerbaijani soldiers annihilated completely 2005 and transformed into a military base,” Naira Zohrabyan said.
She attributed to Abasov, Azerbaijani journalist, who visited 2006 Jugha and stated that his compatriots completely destroyed everything. Naira Zohrabyan also reminded that PACE must follow the implementation of its decisions.
“We all remember that the PACE sent 2007 an observers’ mission to Jugha, however the mission was stopped because of Azerbaijan’s blackmail,” the deputy said. She added that she has already provided the “Jugha: Vandals of the 21st Century” documentary in several languages to many PACE members.
In her speech, Naira Zohrabyan spoke on another case of cultural and religious intolerance. “For preserving its democratic image, Turkey restored the church, but did not permit to place a cross on the church: it is not more, but an exclusive expression of religious intolerance,” Naira Zohrabyan said.