"A group of well-known French cultural figures (director, writer, actor, musician, journalist, singer) have signed an appeal in support of Armenian separatism in Karabakh, based on lies and slander. This was reported in the French newspaper Le Figaro. This is stated in a statement issued by the Ministry of Culture. It was stated that the appeal demonstrates solidarity with the Armenians, concern for their fate in Karabakh, the repetition of the so-called "1915 genocide", support for Armenian separatism, and, in general, Azerbaijan's insidious plans: The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan states that for about thirty years Armenia has illegally occupied the internationally recognized territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent regions, not implementing UN Security Council Resolutions 822, 853, 874, 884. During the long occupation, as a result of the aggressive policy of Armenia, real historical and cultural monuments belonging to the Azerbaijani people were destroyed, appropriated and vandalized in those areas, which were not used in accordance with their historical and cultural purpose.
Along with houses, educational and industrial facilities in the occupied territories, hundreds of cultural institutions, including 927 libraries with a book fund of 4.6 million, 808 palaces of culture, clubs and houses of culture, 85 music and art schools, 22 with more than 100,000 exhibits. museums and museum branches, four art galleries, four theaters, two concert halls, eight culture and recreation parks, and more than 2,000 historical and cultural monuments have fallen victim to this vandalism.
Such barbaric treatment of cultural heritage, including unique monuments of special importance, should be seen as a threat to world heritage. It is unfortunate that the participation of influential cultural figures in this appeal, which was presented to the world community without relying on relevant evidence and facts, scientific research and research, has become a tool of Armenian propaganda. This unprofessional approach casts a shadow over the image and impartiality of these individuals. We remind you that the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1970 Hague Convention on the Prohibition and Prevention of the Illicit Import, Export and Illegal Transfer of Cultural Property Despite being a member of the Paris Convention, there are indisputable facts and evidences about how Azerbaijan destroyed, falsified and looted Azerbaijan's cultural heritage in the territories once occupied. The Ministry invites well-known French cultural and scientific figures to our liberated territories in order to witness the cultural genocide against Azerbaijan and to see in real life the current state of Azerbaijan's destroyed and vandalized heritage. The famous French publication Le Figaro published a list of French directors, writers, philosophers, actors, musicians, journalists and singers who openly supported the Armenian separatism in Karabakh and signed an appeal based on lies, slander and hatred. The general content of the appeal is solidarity with the Armenians, concern for their fate in Karabakh, the repetition of the so-called "1915 genocide", support for Armenian separatism, in general, the insidious plans of Azerbaijan and Turkey. The list of applicants includes world-famous people such as Pierre Richard, Jean Reno, Juliet Binoche, Jean Dujardin, Alain Delon, Claude Lelouch, Claudia Cardinale.