In the face of growing pressure from the Armenian National Committee of Australia and the Australian-Armenian Community at large, the Australian Government has joined the European Parliament and the U.S. State Department in condemning the destruction of the medieval Armenian cemetery in Djulfa, Nakhichevan.
In response to an ANC Australia letter which brought these horrors to light, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade stated, that "the Australian Government deplores the destruction of historical and artistic monuments and sites, [noting] the distress caused to the Armenian people."
"We welcome the Australian Government's stance on this sensitive issue and encourage the Hon. Mr. Alexander Downer, Minister of Foreign Affairs to further pressure his Azeri counterpart so that the Azerbaijani Government will put an end to the destruction and begin immediate restoration of this site, to the extent possible, under the appropriate supervision of Armemian experts and other internationally recognised authorities," said ANCA President Dr. Tro Kortian.
The ANC Australia's efforts in raising awareness of the desecration of the 7th century Armenian Cemetery in Djulfa by Azeri Forces, coincides with the Armenian Government's own efforts. Recently, Armenian Foreign Minister Mr. Vartan Oskanian brought this issue to the attention of UNESCO and asked that a team of expert be sent to asses the situation in Nakhichevan.
