No:565/22, Press release on the meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov with the delegation headed by Öcal Oğuz, the President of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO
On December 8, 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov met with the delegation headed by the President of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO, Öcal Oğuz, within the latter’s visit to Azerbaijan in order participate in the international conference on "The role of UNESCO Conventions concerning the Protection of Cultural Properties and Aspects of Improving Their Implementation" hosted by Azerbaijan.
At the meeting, matters of brotherly relations between Azerbaijan and Türkiye, as well as close cooperation at the level of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the two countries were discussed. In this regard, the importance of mutual support in the issues of joint submission of our common heritage belonging to the Turkic world to the relevant UNESCO heritage lists was discussed.
Noting that within Armenia's 30-year-long aggression policy against Azerbaijan, a systematic policy has been implemented in the direction of destruction, looting, and appropriation of the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov spoke about the damage done to the cultural wealth of Azerbaijan during the past period and the deliberate change of the historical and cultural nature of the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan. Also, he spoke about the threat of landmines in our territories and the serious humanitarian consequences caused by it.
In addition, providing information on the practical steps taken by Azerbaijan to eliminate the severe consequences of the 30-year-long occupation, Minister noted that all cultural and religious monuments in the territories liberated from occupation, regardless of their origin, are properly protected and restored. Minister brought to attention that Azerbaijan repeatedly warned UNESCO about gross violations and illegal activities committed by Armenia and raised the issue of sending a technical mission to the formerly occupied territories.
At the meeting, the opposite side, in turn, talked about the joint measures taken by TURKSOY member countries to protect the intangible cultural heritage and congratulated Azerbaijan on the occasion of the declaration of the city of Shusha as the "cultural capital of the Turkic world" for 2023. He brought to attention that it is our shared responsibility at the international level to protect the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan, especially in the territories liberated from occupation.
At the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the joint events that Shusha will host as the cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2023, as well as other topics of mutual interest.
