06 04 07 -EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SET TO SEND INVESTIGATION TEAM TO EXAMINE AZERBAIJAN'S DESECRATION OF DJULFA CEMETERY

South Caucasus Delegation Set to Travel to Region at the End of April<BR>

STRASBURG (FRANCE) - Speaking at an official conference on Thursday, April 6th, the President of the European Parliament was joined by the leaders of its political parties in strongly approving the body's decision to send a delegation in Djulfa, in the Nakhichevan region of Azerbaijan.

The aim of the mission is to investigate the destruction by Azerbaijan of the Armenian cemetery in Djulfa, a treasure of world architectural heritage
that was effectively destroyed and replaced by an Azerbaijani military facility.

The EP leaders unanimously decided to entrust this mission to the Commission on EU-Armenia parliamentary cooperation rather than to an ad-hoc delegation, as it had initially been planned.

The mission is being sent in accordance with the Parliament's resolution "on cultural heritage in Azerbaijan," which was adopted in February of 2006 (P6_TA(2006)0069). This measure “demands that Azerbaijan allow missions, including experts working with ICOMOS, who are dedicated to surveying and protecting archaeological heritage, in particular Armenian heritage, onto
its territory, and that it also allow a European Parliament delegation to visit the archaeological site at Djulfa."

The delegation will be composed of ten Members of the European Parliament (MEP) who are members of the Commission of EU-Armenia parliamentary cooperation group. They are set to travel to Djulfa as part of their trip to Armenia from April 17th to 21st. Prior to travelling to Djulfa, they will need to get the necessary authorisations from the Azerbaijani authorities, the same authorities responsible for the desecration of the cemetery.

The delegation will include the following MEPs:

Mme Marie-Anne Isler-Béguin, présidente (Verts, France)
M. Arpad Duka-Zolyomi, vice-président (PPE, Slovaquie)
M. Alessandro Battilocchio (NI, Italie)
M. Johannes Blokand (IND/DEM, Pays-Bas)
Mme Frederika Brepoels (PPE, Belgique)
M. Robert Evans (PSE, R.-U.)
Mme Siiri Oviir (ALDE, Estonie)
Mme Gabriele Stauer (PPE, Allemagne)
M. Hannes Swoboda (PSE, Autriche)
M. Tadeusz Zwiefka (PPE, Pologne)

------------------------<BR>


EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
for Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel: +322 732 70 26
Tel/Fax: +322 732 70 27
Email: contact@eafjd.org

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
April 7, 2006
Contact: Vartenie ECHO
Tel: +322 732 70 26

V.V