Simon Maghakyan
Moments ago, the global organization for cultural preservation — UNESCO — announced the final list of 29 historical and natural wonders that have now officially joined the ranks of the Pyramids and Grand Canyon as World Heritage Sites. But the celebrated site of Djulfa, which boasted the world’s largest collection of exquisitely-carved medieval cross-stones
as remnants of the area’s once-thriving community of Armenian
Christians, was not among the 35 candidates vying for World Heritage
Site designation. The legendary historical site is disqualified from
such an honor, because the host of this year’s UNESCO World Heritage
Committee session, the government of Azerbaijan, has erased its existence.
