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"The issue of preservation and protection of religious and cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh has become a part of the conflict settlement. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs raised  the matter in their April 13 statement as well. We are closely cooperating with UNESCO, hoping for the visit of its assessment mission to the region and practical steps by UNESCO to turn that mission into life," Armenia's acting Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian stated at a joint press conference with Sergey Lavrov on Thursday, responding to the question by Panorama.am reporter. 

Commenting on the ongoing acts of vandalism against Armenian cultural monuments in Artsakh and the most recent actions at the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral of Sushi town, Aivazian said that historical-cultural heritage and its preservation is about human rights. The acting minister recalled the UN Special Rapporteurs' recent reflection on the topic and appeal to Azerbaijan. 

"In their letter, the UN  Rapporteurs called for the need of investigation into the targeted attack on the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral on October 8 last year and highlighted the role and the involvement of the Armenian Apostolic Church in renovation works of the Mother Cathedral. However, as we witness today, Azerbaijan not only leaves the appeal of the UN experts unanswered, but through brutal interference unilaterally ignores the norms of international law," Aivazian said, adding: "I should clearly stress that the Mother Cathedral of Shushi which is one of the the biggest Armenian Churches, should reman a place of worship of the Armenian Church."