On May 11, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and ISESCO in Shushi, facilitating the exchange of expertise in culture, science, and education, fostering advancements in technology, and the collaborative execution of joint initiatives.

It's worth noting that ISESCO operates as a specialized branch within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), focusing on Islamic educational, scientific, and cultural matters. Its mission is to enhance cooperation among Islamic nations and to advance sustainable development within these domains.

Similar memorandums and agreements form integral components of Shushi's broader global Islamization strategy. In 2021, as reported by the press service of the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan submitted documentation to the UNESCO Secretariat advocating for the inclusion of the historically Armenian city of Shushi (rebranded as the cultural capital of Azerbaijan following the 44-day war) into the "UNESCO Creative Cities Network".During the 38th International Meeting of Turkic Ministers convened in Khiva, Uzbekistan, on September 17, 2021, Minister Anar Kerimov affirmed Baku's intention to designate Shushi as the "Cultural Capital of the Turkic World" in 2023. This move is geared towards fostering connections and collaboration in developing the shared culture of Turkic peoples, in conjunction with the "TURKSOY" international organization. Moreover, throughout 2021-2022, a series of conferences were convened in occupied Shushi, aiming to manipulate the city's historical and cultural narrative. These efforts sought to internationally solidify the portrayal of Shushi as solely Azerbaijani and legitimize this perspective before the global community and international organizations. These trends are unmistakably apparent in all programs and addresses, wherein Shushi is exclusively depicted as an Azerbaijani and Turkic settlement, completely disregarding its rich Armenian cultural heritage, historical legacy, and the existence of numerous monuments within the city. In a notable instance, on October 21, 2022, the third conference of spiritual leaders of the Organization of Turkic States was convened in Baku under the theme "The richness of the Turkish-Islamic heritage and its importance in the context of solving modern problems". Preceding this conference, on October 20, a document was signed in Shushi, laying the groundwork for the establishment of the Shushi Turkic Council of Heads of Muslim Departments of the Organization of States. It's worth highlighting that the agreement includes a reference to collaboration with Turkic partners concerning the restoration of cultural assets. According to this agreement, there is a commitment to mutual assistance in restoring Muslim heritage sites that suffered damage during the Armenian occupation.

Our response

Declaring the historically significant city of Shushi, a cornerstone of Armenian culture, as Azerbaijani fundamentally contravenes the core principles of the city's history, authenticity, and integrity.

From a legal standpoint, Azerbaijan's actions constitute a violation of the 2001 policy on the Protection of Cultural Diversity and the provisions of the 2005 conventions "On the protection and promotion of the diversity of forms of cultural self-expression", both of which Azerbaijan is a signatory to. Moreover, the actions taken by Azerbaijan also contravene the cultural rights of the Armenian community of Shushi, as stipulated in Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights established in 1966. It ensures the right of all individuals to engage in cultural life. The 2007 Fribourg Declaration of Cultural Rights further elaborates on this, framing cultural rights as an avenue for expressing identity and accessing diverse cultural resources and knowledge. Additionally, the 2005 Faro Convention "Cultural Heritage for Society" includes provisions safeguarding the right to cultural heritage.

The alienation of the city's identity and alterations in the function of its heritage constitute significant harm to the intangible aspects of its heritage. These include the knowledge and history associated with the heritage, which imbue it with meaning and value.