ADA University in Baku hosted an international conference Role of UNESCO Conventions Concerning the Protection of Cultural Properties and Aspects of Improving Their Implementation.
On Thursday, December 8, ADA University in Baku hosted an international conference Role of UNESCO Conventions Concerning the Protection of Cultural Properties and Aspects of Improving Their Implementation. The National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO, the State Tourism Agency, ICOMOS Azerbaijan National Committee, ICOM Azerbaijan National Committee, and the Institute for Development and Diplomacy at ADA co-organized the conference.
Dr. Shirin Melikova, Director of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, Chair of ICOM Azerbaijan joined the conference and moderated the 2nd Panel: UNESCO Conventions and Their Reflection on Museum. Ralf Čeplak Mencin, Chair, International Committee for Museums and Collections of Ethnography, ICOM-ICME, Fethi Gedikli, Head of the Department, Istanbul University, Sibel Özel, Head of Department, Private Law, Faculty of Law, Marmara University, Tatyana Krupa, Head of the YMAI International Research Laboratory, Pavlodar State Pedagogical University, Kerem Karabulut, Ataturk University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Economics delivered presentations on the main aspects of the topic and addressed primary issues of this very timely subject.
At the panel, Dr Melikova emphasized, “Today, protecting cultural property during armed conflicts remains a topical issue. Unfortunately, we are witnessing the destruction of unique monuments of antiquity, art theft, looting, and the demolition of valuable tangible culture amid current hostilities worldwide. The cultural heritage sites and museums of Karabakh have suffered this fate. Despite being an internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan, Karabakh endured occupation for 30 years. During this period, Azerbaijan's legacy of tangible and intangible heritage was deliberately and coherently destroyed, including major cultural monuments and 22 museums of different profiles, collections of which have been lost through looting or destruction. While relevant international conventions aim to prevent the demolition of cultural heritage, unfortunately, they can neither stop it nor combat illicit trafficking. Today, the main focus of museum workers who preserve the nation's cultural heritage is to compass the conventions to help in conflict situations. ICOM, an umbrella for the museum community, should unite within the framework of these conventions, raise this crucial topic, and work extensively on it as it is one of the most urgent matters in view of all political events, especially in the region.”
