January 23 La Stampa Italian newspaper published an article titled “Azeri soldiers destroy the graves at old Armenian cemeteries” which tells about the barbarian elimination of the Armenian khachkars (cross stones) in Nakhichevan. The author of the article addresses the Azerbaijani authorities, the UN and UNESCO accusing them of indifferent silence. The Azeri Embassy in Italy January 30 “refuted the accusations” and at the same time accused the newspaper of spreading false information.
As reported by the RA MFA press office, the newspaper also published Armenian Ambassador to Italy Ruben Shugarian’s comment on the article. Citing the letter sent by Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian to UNESCO Secretary General the Armenian diplomat noted in part that even at the beginning of the 20th century Azerbaijan started consistent destruction of the Armenian traces on its territory and it was resumed in 2002. “The European Commission, the U.S. Congress and the UK House of Lords have already expressed attitude about this fact, They called upon the Azerbaijani government to put an end to the barbarism,” Shugarian said.
