AZERBAIJAN BRINGS NAGORNO-KARABAKH ISSUE TO UNESCO

UNCLAS UNESCO PARIS FR 001476

SIPDIS

VIENNA FOR USOSCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL PREL UNESCO AJ AM
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN BRINGS NAGORNO-KARABAKH ISSUE TO UNESCO

REF: PARIS FR 01454


1. Summary. After a series of acrimonious exchanges with Armenia
in the General Debate at UNESCO's 35th General Conference,
Azerbaijan won a small victory by including wording in the 2010
Program and Budget calling for the "implementation of necessary
measures to safeguard and preserve cultural heritage in countries in
conflict, particularly in occupied territories." UNESCO staff
assure us they have no intention of involving themselves in the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue, but the fact remains that Azerbaijan has
succeeded in getting its issue included in UNESCO's strategic plan.
We anticipate Azerbaijan will seek other opportunities to inject its
dispute with Armenia into future meetings of UNESCO's Executive
Board and General Conference. End Summary.

INITIAL SKIRMISHES


2. Azerbaijan succeeded in raising its dispute with Armenia at
UNESCO's just concluded 35th General Conference in Paris. Aware
that Azerbaijan had submitted a budget amendment referring to its
dispute with Armenia, Armenia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, in his
opening remarks trumpeted Armenia's long history and cultural
accomplishments, noted "excellent cooperation" with Iran including
Iran's preservation of the St. Thaddeus Monastery and highlighted
Armenia's cooperation in preserving a 17th Century Persian Mosque in
Yerevan. In contrast, he declared "this positive experience is not
reciprocated by our other neighbors. As a result of the policy of
destruction of the Armenian historical heritage, thousands of
cultural monuments that were of universal value, have been lost
forever." The Minister then went on to name specifics including the
"annihilation" of the Jugha Cemetery and the demolition of a 7th
century Armenian Church in Nakhichevan. He then called on UNESCO to
"stand up to the challenge of unabated violations of cultural
rights..."


3. Not to be outdone, Azerbaijan's Minister of Education stated
that one-fifth of the country is occupied and that 900 libraries,
700 schools, 9 mosques, 26 museums and many cultural sites and
cemeteries had been destroyed as the result of Armenian aggression.
Moreover, Azeris whose families had lived for centuries in territory
controlled by Armenia, had been forced into exile, the Minister
said.

AZERBAIJAN WINS IN THE CULTURE COMMISSION


4. This exchange in the opening debate was followed by discussion
of Azerbaijan's proposed amendment to UNESCO's 2010-2011 Program and
Budget which called for the "implementation of necessary measures to
safeguard and preserve cultural heritage in countries in conflict,
particularly in occupied territories." The Azeri delegation had
originally proposed to insert this language into programs related to
the 1972 World Heritage Convention. Enough delegations, including
the United States, objected and the proposal was deflected into a
program relating to the operation of the 1954 Hague Convention for
the protection of cultural property in time of armed conflict.


5. Comment: Azerbaijan is a member of UNESCO's Executive Board and
has for some time been trying to find a way to inject its dispute
with Armenia into UNESCO's proceedings. Even though UNESCO staff
tell us privately that they have absolutely no intention of doing
anything to implement the language Azerbaijan put into the strategic
plan, the fact remains that it is there and that Azerbaijan and
other states who claim they have territory under foreign military
occupation can argue that UNESCO should be trying to protect
cultural property in the areas allegedly under occupation. The door
thus is open a crack for what could be highly political discussions
under the guise of cultural preservation. We would not be surprised
if Azerbaijan were to look for other opportunities to raise its
dispute with Armenia at future UNESCO Executive Board and General
Conference sessions. End Comment.
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