AZERBAIJAN'S AMBASSADOR TO GEORGIA LYING LIKE HIS AMERICAN COUNTERPART
Note: translation

In December 2005, more than a 100 soldiers of the Azerbaijani army totally annihilated the historical Armenian cemetery of Julfa (‘Jugha' in Armenian), located in the Autonomous Republic of Nakhijevan, Azerbaijan. Armed with heavy hammers, they reduced over 3,000 ornate khachkars to a heap of crushed pieces. World mass media exposed and widely condemned that vandalism.    On 9 January 2006, Azerbaijan's ambassador to the United States Hafiz Pashayev responded to that alarming news by addressing a letter to F. Pallone. He declared that the Armenians had again distorted facts and brought groundless accusations against Azerbaijan.    About a month and a half later, Azerbaijan's ambassador to Georgia followed his counterpart's example, stating that some official Armenian bodies had disseminated that disinformation to undermine Azerbaijan's reputation. He also added that "the cemetery of Julfa formed part of Azerbaijan's cultural heritage and was under state protection." ("Akhali Taoba," N 51, 22 February 2006, in Georgian).    The Republic of Azerbaijan, established only in 1918 on territories usurped from the Armenians, Georgians, Lezghins, and the Talysh, appropriated the name of the Iranian province of Atropatene. Among the territories of Historical Armenia annexed to that country is Nakhijevan (within the borders of Azerbaijan since 1921), where the Armenian cemetery of Julfa used to be located. Extending on the left bank of the river Arax, that medieval cemetery was in perfect view from the Iranian side of the river, whence photographs were taken at different times, exposing all the details of its destruction. Those wishing to get proof of that unprecedented crime perpetrated by the Azerbaijani authorities can visit the site of the former cemetery (indeed, if they are granted permission by Nakhijevan's Azerbaijani authorities), or see it from the Iranian bank of the river Arax. Research on Armenian Architecture (RAA) Organization

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