NGO protests transportation of monuments
A group of young people gathered outside the government building in Yerevan to protest the transportation of monuments from Armenian marzes to the capital to be displayed at a exhibition.
The demonstrators demanded that the executive body annul its decision allowing the transportation of the historical monuments.
"A monument should stand on its soil. A stone cannot be considered a monument separately; it cannot be taken to Yerevan. This is a violation of cultural norms," said Liana Manusajyan, a member of an NGO dealing with the preservation of historical monuments.
The angered citizens say that the monuments can be restored in their present places and it is no use transporting them to Yerevan.
"The older a monument is, the more it tells us. It should be restored only in case it is on the verge of destruction," she said.
The protesters were carrying posters, reading: "Transportation of monuments devalues them," "Armenia is not only Yerevan," "Do not deprive people of cultural values."
The group then headed to the History Museum of Armenia where the monuments are placed now. Unlike the protesters, Deputy Culture Minister Arev Samuelyan says the transportation of monuments revalues them.
"In Yerevan, they will be restored, freshened and revalued as many people do not even know their whereabouts. Many of them have been brought to the Museum from yards," she said.
Arman Mkhitaryan, a member of the initiative group, expressed his concerns that the monuments will not be taken back in 2016 as the government promised.
"In 2007, a khachkar (cross-ston) was taken from Lori to be showcased at the Museum of Louvre. The khachkar has not been returned to this date. There are numerous other similar cases," he said.
At least 51 historical monuments compiled from Armenian marzes will be put on display at the exhibition "It is time to gather stones" to be held at the History Museum of Armenia in December.
