- “Monument Watch” alerts about a Vatican conference on Christianity in Azerbaijan.
- The project claims the conference aims to erase Armenian cultural heritage.
- Armenian monuments like Amaras, Gandzasar, and Dadivank are allegedly presented as Albanian.
- Concern raised over the lack of Armenian scholars and perspectives at the event.
- “Monument Watch” calls for action from Armenian and international bodies.
“Monument Watch” Sounds Alarm Over Vatican Conference Allegedly Misrepresenting Armenian Heritage
The “Monument Watch” project, an initiative dedicated to monitoring cultural heritage, has issued a public alert regarding an international conference titled “Christianity in Azerbaijan: History and Modernity” currently underway at the Pontifical Gregorian University in the Vatican. The project claims that the conference’s objective is to undermine Armenian history, culture, and presence within the territory of Azerbaijan.
According to the alert, which was disseminated on April 10, 2025, “Monument Watch” states that until its release, no Armenian Studies organization was aware of this significant academic gathering. The project expresses deep concern that dozens of experts and researchers from various countries, including Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Russia, Poland, Italy, Georgia, Germany, France, Canada, the United States, and Lithuania, have been convened with the alleged aim of negating Armenian historical and cultural presence in Azerbaijan.
Specifically, “Monument Watch” highlights that monuments unequivocally considered Armenian, bearing numerous Armenian inscriptions, are being presented at the conference as belonging to Caucasian Albanian heritage. The alert names several prominent examples, including the Amaras Monastery, Gandzasar Monastery, and Dadivank Monastery, all historically significant Armenian religious and cultural sites located in territories now under Azerbaijani control.
The “Monument Watch” team also voiced perplexity over the participation of some well-known scholars in the field who are reportedly aware of the absence of Armenian researchers at the conference and the complete lack of any mention of Armenians in the discussions. This participation has raised questions within the Armenian academic and cultural preservation communities.
The alert concludes with a strong expression of protest and concern directed towards Armenian cultural preservation organizations and communities, the international academic community, and Armenian authorities. “Monument Watch” urges these bodies to address the alleged obscuring and ignoring of Armenian memory, history, and culture at this international platform. The project emphasizes the importance of safeguarding Armenian cultural heritage from misrepresentation and historical revisionism.
This alert from “Monument Watch” underscores the ongoing sensitivity and tensions surrounding the preservation and interpretation of cultural heritage in the context of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. The allegations raise serious concerns about the potential for academic platforms to be used for political purposes and the need for vigilance in protecting cultural identity.