PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee of Americactn
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
May 20, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
U.S. AMBASSADOR DESIGNATE TO AZERBAIJAN RESPONDS TO
SEN. BOXER’S CONCERNS ON DJULFA CEMETERY DESTRUCTION
— Diplomat Stops Short of Pledging U.S. Investigation
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Ambassador Designate to Azerbaijan Anne Derse
responded to concerns raised by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) regarding
Azerbaijan’s destruction of the over millennia old Djulfa Armenian
cemetery in Nakhichevan, this week, but refrained from pledging any concrete
commitment to investigate the matter, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
Submitting a written response to questions by Sen. Boxer relayed
during her May 12th Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation
hearing, Derse noted that the Department of State is “urging the
relevant Azerbaijani authorities to investigate the allegations of
desecration of cultural monuments in Nakhichevan and take
appropriate measures to prevent any desecration of cultural
monuments. Armenia and Azerbaijan are both members of UNESCO (and
OSCE), and Azerbaijan has raised these issues in those
organizations. We have encouraged Armenia and Azerbaijan to work
with UNESCO to investigate this incident. If I am confirmed, and if
such issues arise during my tenure, I will communicate our concerns
to the Government of Azerbaijan and pursue appropriate activities
in support of U.S. interests.”
Sen. Boxer had specifically asked if the Ambassador Designate would
“visit the cemetery site and commit [herself] to investigating the
demolition of this unique cemetery.”
“We want to thank Senator Boxer for raising Azerbaijan’s
desecration of the Djulfa cemetery with Ambassador Designate
Derse,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We were
deeply troubled by the silence of the U.S. Embassy on this issue
during the tenure of her predecessor, Reno Harnish, and remain
hopeful that, despite her evasive response, Anne Derse will prove a
more vocal and effective advocate for the core American values of
tolerance and respect for cultural heritage. She can start off on
the right foot by personally visiting Djulfa during her first month
in office.”
In December of 2005, approximately 200 Azerbaijani soldiers were
videotaped using sledgehammers to demolish the Armenian cemetery in
Djulfa, a sacred site of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The
cemetery dates back to the 7th Century and once was home to as many
as 10,000 khatchkars (intricately carved stone-crosses). An on-line
video of the destruction can be viewed at:
4.htm
The ANCA has widely distributed DVDs documenting the destruction,
educated Congressional offices about this desecration, and worked
in concert with ANCA affiliates around the world to protest
Azerbaijan’s worsening anti-Armenian behavior. The Congressional
Armenian Caucus, led by Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI), has formally condemned Azerbaijan’s actions, as have
Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Congresswoman Grace Napolitano
(D-CA). On February 16, 2006, the European Parliament adopted a
resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s destruction of the cemetery and
demanding that Azerbaijan allow a European Parliament delegation to
survey the site.
Derse also responded to a series of questions by Sen. Paul Sarbanes
(D-MD) earlier this week on belligerent statements and war rhetoric
by Azerbaijani leaders, as well as on the status of Nagorno
Karabagh peace talks.
Anne Derse is a Foreign Service Officer with more than a quarter
century of experience. She most recently served as Director for
Biodefense Policy at the Homeland Security Council. Her prior
postings have included service as Minister Counselor for Economic
Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq and at the U.S. Mission to the
European Union. Ms. Derse also has held posts in the Philippines,
South Korea, Belgium, and Singapore, among other locations.
The complete text of Sen. Boxer’s questions and Derse’s responses
are provided below.
#####
Questions for the Record Submitted to
Ambassador-Designate Anne Derse
Senator Barbara Boxer
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
May 12, 2006
Question #1:
In April 2006, the London Times reported on the destruction of a
historic Armenian cemetery in Azerbaijan. According to the
article, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, a London-based
NGO, found that only a “dry patch of earth,” stood where there were
once thousands of carved headstones that dated from the 9th to 16th
centuries.
The European Parliament is undertaking a fact-finding mission to
investigate the allegations of attacks on cultural sites. However,
despite pleas from the Armenian American community, U.S. Ambassador
to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish did not visit the cemetery site or
respond to requests for an investigation of the cemetery’s
destruction, which was reportedly captured on videotape.
If confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, would you visit
the cemetery site and commit yourself to investigating the
demolition of this unique cemetery?
In addition, would you work with officials in Azerbaijan to
establish means for protecting other ancient monuments and
religious symbols from meeting a similar fate?
Answer:
The United States is a strong proponent of preserving world
cultural heritage, and we are aware that concerns have been raised
that historic Armenian gravesites in Julfa, located in the
Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan, have been desecrated by
Azerbaijani forces.
We are urging the relevant Azerbaijani authorities to investigate
the allegations of desecration of cultural monuments in Nakhichevan
and take appropriate measures to prevent any desecration of
cultural monuments. Armenia and Azerbaijan are both members of
UNESCO (and OSCE), and Azerbaijan has raised these issues in those
organizations. We have encouraged Armenia and Azerbaijan to work
with UNESCO to investigate this incident.
If I am confirmed, and if such issues arise during my tenure, I
will communicate our concerns to the Government of Azerbaijan and
pursue appropriate activities in support of U.S. interests.
Question #2:
Azerbaijan, along with Turkey, continues to carry out their
blockade of Armenia, despite calls from the United States and
international community for regional cooperation and economic
integration.
The Department of State has estimated that the blockade is
responsible for inflating Armenia’s transportation costs by up to
35 percent. It is also threatening the development of the
country’s free-market economy. Furthermore, the blockade is
preventing the opening of an important East-West trade corridor,
one that would also be beneficial for the United States.
As Ambassador, how would you work toward ending Azerbaijan’s
harmful blockade of Armenia and opening up the East-West trade
corridor? What steps would you take to promote the United States’
policy of increasing regional cooperation?
Answer:
As a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the U.S. seeks to help
Armenia and Azerbaijan achieve a peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Until this conflict is resolved, it is
unlikely that Azerbaijan and Armenia will normalize economic or
diplomatic relations.
That said, the U.S. Government strongly encourages regional
integration in the Caucasus. Removing trade barriers would improve
regional integration and enhance economic cooperation and
development. Regional integration should, of course, include all
countries of the region. We have long believed that opening the
border between Turkey and Armenia would contribute to the economies
of both countries. If confirmed, I will strongly support the
Administration’s efforts to pursue regional integration for all
countries in the region.