Politicization of UNESCO platform by Azerbaijani side raises serious concerns: Armenian MFA

In 2017 UNESCO inscribed Kochari, traditional group dance, on the list of Intangible Culture Heritage at Armenia’s request. Few days ago the organization inscribed “Yalli (Kochari, Tenzere) traditional dances of Nakhichevan” on the list of Intangible Culture Heritage as well.

The decision was made at the 13th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Mauritius. The application was presented by Azerbaijan.

Asked to clarify the situation MFA spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan said that the inscription of any element on the list of Intangible Culture Heritage does not suppose property right over this element by the applicant country.

“I want to stress that the inscription of each element on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage does not suppose property right over that element. Its inscription means recognizing the existence of mentioned element’s cultural manifestations and its peculiarities in the applicant country,” she said.

According to the Azerbaijani application, there are about 60 types of Yalli in Nakhichevan and among them is Kochari.

“The issue though raises other concerns, and particularly Azerbaijan’s attempts to politicize UNESCO platform which already have had certain impact on the organization’s working style. UNESCO has been created to promote peace and people’s security by promoting cultural cooperation between the states,” she said, adding that as a result of such like politicization it becomes a platform which more deepens the issues.

“This circumstance should be rather alarming for all the members of the organization and UNESCO Director General as well,” she said.

“At the UNESCO events Armenia has many times voiced the reality and spoke about Azerbaijan’s ill approaches and the mentioned session was not exclusion,” she said.