On November 22, Vahe Gevorgyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia received Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.

Deputy Minister Gevorgyan emphasized the importance of the Alliance of Civilizations and noted Armenia’s longstanding membership in the Group of Friends of the Alliance. He underlined that interfaith and intercultural dialogue, fight against hate speech and discrimination, protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms can play an important role in building peaceful and inclusive societies and in strengthening the international and regional peace and security.

High Representative Moratinos presented the main pillars of the Alliance of Civilizations and stressed the importance of Armenia’s role and participation in the activities of the Alliance.

Deputy Minister Gevorgyan briefed the High Representative on the destruction, desecration and deliberate distortion of the identity of Armenian historic, cultural and religious heritage in the territories that fell under the control of Azerbaijan in the aftermath of its aggression against Artsakh. In this respect he underscored the urgency of the active involvement of UNESCO, particularly in the form of a regional independent assessment mission within the framework of the 1954 Hague Convention for the “Protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict”.

Both sides agreed that through its mandate the Alliance of Civilizations can contribute to the advancement of tolerance, interfaith dialogue and protection of religious heritage in the region.