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Akbar Novruz

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Raymond Bondin, Former President of the National Commission of Malta for UNESCO, emphasized the importance of countering prejudices and misconceptions about Azerbaijan by presenting the country’s realities, Azernews reports.

He made these remarks during a panel session on "Restoration and Protection of Cultural Heritage," held within the framework of the II International Conference "Right of Return: Ensuring Justice for Azerbaijanis Forced to Deport from Armenia," organized by the Western Azerbaijan Community.

Highlighting the significance of heritage, Bondin stated, “Heritage is a set of features that characterize a people, and therefore it can be used as a means of sabotage in the hands of some malicious forces. Western Azerbaijanis should be very careful against such cases.” He cited the example of the destruction of the church in Shusha during the Armenian occupation, which was falsely attributed to Azerbaijan.

Bondin condemned the extensive destruction in Shusha, noting that mosques were used as stables during the occupation. “This is an unacceptable step. Azerbaijan is trying to carry out as much restoration work as possible to restore historical monuments to their original state. I have visited Garabagh, and the scale of destruction and the number of mines planted—over a million during the occupation—are staggering,” he remarked.

He also called for greater international involvement in preserving cultural heritage, drawing attention to the ancient caves in Garabagh that hold global historical significance. “This is not only about the history of Azerbaijan but the history of all mankind. Raising awareness in the international community about these efforts is essential,” Bondin added, emphasizing Azerbaijan's proactive initiatives in restoration and advocacy despite prevailing misconceptions.

Bondin concluded by urging the international community to recognize Azerbaijan's significant contributions to preserving heritage and confronting false narratives.