Council of Europe plans to conduct monitoring of historical and cultural monuments in Azerbaijan's occupied lands

“The Baku conference is significant as such events play important role in the forming of relations between the European countries and the Islamic world”, Robert Palmer, Director of Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage of the Council of Europe, said commenting on the sixth conference of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) member states that began in Baku on Oct. 13.

He noted that similar conference in Baku organized by the Council of Europe last year.

Responding to questions from reporters, Palmer found it difficult to say when the mission for monitoring of monuments of culture, history and religion in  occupied territories of Azerbaijan will visit the region, he expressed hope that it will take place next year.

He said Azerbaijan and Armenia have not agreed yet from what territory the mission will enter Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Only after that we can realize the mission technically. It is within our action program. But we can schedule the visit only after the coordinating it with the parties”.

Robert Palmer said the Council of Europe strongly condemned the destruction of monuments and intangible heritage.

“The Council of Europe condemns the destruction of heritage in any territory. We have firm position on that issue and we are developing the dialogue with the governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia to organize a technical visit to the region. The dialogue is held with the foreign ministers of both countries. We still continue to dialogue with the government of Azerbaijan and Armenia trying to organize a technical visit to Nagorno-Karabakh to assess the damage that was done to the monuments," he said.

/APA/