Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenia expects that inscription of medieval capital of Ani on UNESCO World Heritage list will advance preservation of Armenian historical and cultural heritage on the territory of Turkey.

A few days earlier, “Archeological Site of Ani” application, submitted by Turkey, was approved at the 40th UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Istanbul.

The application, published on the official UNESCO website, reads in particular:

“This medieval city combines residential, religious and military structures, characteristic of a medieval urbanism built up over the centuries by Christian and then Muslim dynasties. The city flourished in the 10th and 11th centuries CE when it became the capital of the medieval Armenian kingdom of the Bagratides and profited from control of one branch of the Silk Road.”

At the press conference summarizing the efforts of the Committee today, Armenian Deputy Minister of Culture Nerses Ter-Vardanyan stated that Turkey submitted an application to UNESCO regarding Ani a few years ago. The application was sent for experts’ revision, which brought the addition of the fact about the origins of the city, particularly it being Armenian.

“The reviewed application clearly states Armenian origin of the city. We attach importance to insciprion of Ani in regard of not only raising awareness about it, but also of preservation of our historical and cultural heritage in that city,” said Deputy Minister.

According to him, inscription on the UNESCO list creates certain guarantees for preservation of monuments in the city of Ani. In particular, Turkey is obliged to regularly report on preservation of monuments in Ani, and is prohibited from changing them without permission of UNESCO.

“This is especially important in light of absense of diplomatic ties between Armenia and Turkey,” said Nerses Ter-Vardanyan.

Head of International Organizations Department of Armenian MFA, Secretary General of Armenian National Commission for UNESCO Vahram Kazhoyan noticed that Armenia stated at UNESCO for several times in the recent years that preservation of Armenian monuments on the territory of Turkey is not ensured.

“It was important for us that the site of Ani was inscripted on the UNESCO list in regard of preservation of monuments in the city. Thus, Turkey is obliged to preserve the city and has no right to change anything there without UNESCO’s permission,” said Vahram Kazhoyan.

According to him, around 70% of Armenian historical and cultural heritage is located outside of the Republic of Armenia. Inscription of Ani on the UNESCO list can be considered the first step in the global process of preservation of those monuments.