YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. The open-air three-days photo exhibition untitled "Cultural Genocide" is dedicated to the former and present state of the Armenian monuments, monasteries and churches in Azerbaijan, Nakhijevan, Georgia, Iran and Western Armenia. The exhibition opened in the yard of the central subsidiary building of the Yerevan State University on April 18, on the initiative of the ARF Dashnaktsutiun "Nikol Aghbalian" students' union. As Abraham Gasparian, a member of the ARF "Nikol Aghbalian" students' union emphasized, Iran is a special example of a dialogue of civilizations in the issue of protection of Armenian cultural monuments as that country uses a special state policy in the direction of their protection. "The creative genius of our Persian Armenian community having history of more than 400 years is protected in that coutry what may not be said about Georgia," he mentioned. According to Gasparian, "it was supposed that Christian monuments must be protected at least in Georgia, but the real picture is another one, in contrast to all statements about the brotherly ties of Georgia and Armenia." Armenian churches and monasteries in Georgia are periodically set on fire, blown up, destroyed and distorted. The state policy led towards Armenian monuments by Azerbaijan and Turkey, of course, may not be called a dialogue of civilizations as still since 60s of the last century they have been distorted and destoyed for one purpose, to prove that Armenians are not owners in those territories. The "Nikol Aghbalian" students' union calls on the RA political institutions, statesmen, mass media, public organizations, foreign diplomatic representations accredited in Armenia to keep in pivot of practical attention the issue of protection and defence of Armenian monuments being the passport of the national identity wherever they are.

---