Author: Maral Takmazian

It didn’t take long for Azerbaijani occupiers to desecrate and vandalize the Ghazanchetsots (Holy Savior) Cathedral in Shushi, which was bombed twice last month by its forces.

Armenia’s Minister of Education, Culture and Sports Arayik Harutyunyan, as well as the World Council of Churches urged UNESCO, the United Nations cultural arm, to protect Artsakh’s religious sites, which came under heavy Azerbaijani shelling and are in danger of being destroyed.

The WCC issued the following statement:

The executive committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC), meeting by video conference from November 9 to 13, 2020, is gathered at a pivotal and acutely painful moment for the people of the land of Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh and for all Armenian people, following the announcement of an agreement between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia to bring an end to six weeks of intense armed conflict. We make an appeal for an end to the bloodshed and destruction this conflict has brought.

We join with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, in praying for wisdom, unity and calm. We grieve with all those who have suffered terrible losses not only in the renewed fighting since September 27, but throughout the long history of the struggle for self-determination in the region, entrenching antagonism more deeply with each precious life lost.

We stand in solidarity with the Armenian communities that are threatened by the renewal of the genocide against their people, particularly in light of the egregious comments made by Turkish President Erdogan vowing to “fulfill this mission, which our grandfathers have carried out for centuries, in the Caucasus region” and in light of Turkey’s role in the current conflict. The WCC condemns any such threats, explicit or implicit, and the actions of those who have insinuated themselves in the conflict and exacerbated its violence, including by supplying internationally-banned weapons, sending mercenaries and jihadists from Syria and elsewhere, and seeking to turn it into a religious conflict. The WCC condemns the use of chemical weapons and cluster munitions, the targeting of civilians, hospitals and public infrastructure, and all other war crimes, beheadings, torture and other atrocities witnessed in the past weeks.

Furthermore, we appeal for respect for the holy sites and cultural heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh, though the repeated shelling of the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi on October 8 and the numerous reports being received of other more recent desecrations indicate a different reality. We urge UNESCO to take all possible and appropriate measures to protect these sites.

We call urgently upon all members of the international community to join in supporting efforts for the protection of such holy sites, for the return in safety and dignity of all refugees and displaced people, for protection of the Armenian people from the threat of genocide, for a lasting peace founded on justice and human rights for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh and the wider region, and to refrain from instigating or encouraging antagonism, conflict and injustice.

We lift up and accompany the continuing ministry and witness of the churches of the region, and pray that the church leaders may be given strength and wisdom to guide their people through this crisis.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me.” Palms 23:4

The calamitous end of the national turmoil of the past seven weeks is agonizing for every Armenian as we face the bitter post war reality on the ground in Armenia and Artsakh. The sacrifice of a generation of heroes younger than the age of the current conflict; destruction of civilian towns and villages of the peaceful indigenous population in Artsakh, the blazing fires of historic forests, shelling of churches, hospitals and schools; use of internationally prohibited weaponry are all the quotient of a seven week long brutal assault on Armenia and Artsakh.

A calamity no one can disparage and a pain no one can minimize.

But we have marched the valleys of death before and have come to soar the apex of victory.
Today, is only a moment in history and a stage in the glorious journey of civilization, our martyred nation and Homeland have marched through.

• We refuse to be crushed, perplexed or entangled and have no time to lose.
• The road ahead requires resilience, steadfastness, self-confidence and courage.
• As the nation collectively embarks on a post war journey of recovery and rebound, we have a few commitments to reiterate and convictions to share.
• We bow our heads in unison to the memory of all martyrs who sacrificed their lives in defense of the homeland and affirm our boundless support of our people.
• We stand by the democratically elected institutions in the Republic of Armenia and Artsakh and support the will of the people.
• We pledge and commit to assist the return of the resettled population of Artsakh to their homes.
• We demand international recognition of the independence of the Republic of Artsakh, with stipulations of guarantee of the safety and security of its people.
• We stand with the Republic of Armenia and continue our efforts to develop the Homeland and cultivate the spiritual growth and physical and economic development of its people.
• We reiterate our resolute commitment to continue all AMAA educational, social and humanitarian programs and services and expand where needed.
• We commit ourselves in the most loving Christian spirit to coordinate and cooperate in a spirit of unity and comradery with all sister organizations in our operational processes.
• We call on all entities and political forces who embrace the interest of the Homeland to work in a spirit of unity and harmony.
  In all things under the sun, we anchor our faith in the spilled blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and perpetually aim to bring glory to God.

In the past several weeks, wonderful babies came to existence in Artsakh and Armenia. Let us relentlessly and lovingly aspire to make their youth bright. May they be blessed with a joyful and peaceful life in an ideal Homeland that would set the light of faith high upon a pedestal for all mankind.