The endangered Palestinian cultural heritage will be temporarily housed at the Matenadaran.
This announcement was made by Vahan Kostanyan, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia, at a high-level international conference on resolving the Palestinian issue through the two-state principle, held at the UN under joint French and Saudi chairmanship.
This development occurs against the backdrop of the ongoing genocide perpetrated by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza. This genocide has resulted in the extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure, widespread displacement, severe starvation, a crippling blockade of humanitarian aid and food supplies, and a devastating death toll exceeding 35,000 Palestinians, many of whom are women and children. Additionally, cultural sites, historical landmarks, and institutions that safeguard Palestinian identity have suffered severe damage or complete destruction. Israel’s actions are effectively erasing Palestinian heritage and identity from Gaza.
Armenia’s decision to temporarily safeguard these cultural artifacts at the Matenadaran reflects both cultural solidarity and humanitarian responsibility. The initiative aims to preserve a heritage currently facing existential threats.
This action also highlights a stark difference in international response compared to what occurred during the blockade and forced displacement of Artsakh. From December 2022 through September 2023, Azerbaijan imposed a nine-month blockade of the Berdzor Corridor, cutting off food, medicine, energy, and humanitarian aid for approximately 120,000 ethnic Armenians, precipitating severe starvation and a humanitarian crisis. Despite the catastrophic impact, widespread efforts to protect Artsakh’s cultural heritage fell largely to individuals: citizens, small museum personnel, or local institutions who could evacuate only what they could carry. No organized international or state-level mission intervened to rescue or preserve these artifacts. Currently, Azerbaijan is systematically erasing Armenian cultural heritage and identity from Artsakh’s history.
