But the Armenians are not the only ones who claim the land as historically there own. The Azeri, a Turkish-speaking people, trace their heritage to the ancient Caucasian Albanians, an ancient Christian people who also inhabited the area. This has led to some of the most shocking accusation by Armenians who say the Azerbaijan government has been intentionally erasing ancient Armenian inscriptions over old bridges and churches and claiming them Albanian.
�The Khatchkars in the Karvajar district that they couldn�t forge they broke up and used in their buildings and as gravel in road construction,� angrily claims Slava Sarkissyan.
This accusation is echoed by the RAA who claims that the old churches in Karvajar district were turned into quarries and bits and pieces can now be found inside the walls of public building like the school in the town of Tzar. RAA�s careful study of the structure found numerous church stones inside its walls and 133 Khachkar fragments. Thirty seven of these fragments had been inscribed including a famed 13th centuy Khachkar that once read, �IN THE YEAR OF ARMENIAN DATING 1289. I, GRIGOR, THE SON OF HASSAN, BRAVE AND VICTORIOUS ARMY COMMANDER, AND THE GREAT PRINCE OF AKAN, HANDABERD, SOT, SHOGHGAH AND MANY OTHER PROVINCES, ERECTED THIS CROSS IN MY VILLAGE, WHICH IS CALLED TZAR, FOR MY BELOVED FATHER, FATHERLAND AND AS AN AWARD FOR THE BRAVERY.� � Of this historical 700 year old treasure only a small fragment, SHOGHG remains visible inside the frame of the school window.
Today, in both Azerbaijan and Turkey the destruction carries on. RAA offices have just recently received reports from military patrols along the Azerbaijan boarder that bulldozers have arrived and are starting to bring down the medieval fortress of St. Sargis Monastery � the new Jugha. Samvel Karapetian has already packed his bags, binoculars, camera and bulletproof vest. From a secured position behind sandbags he will document the remains and whatever destruction is taking place, but he sighs because he wonders that after all the evidence is put forward will anyone listen? And if so - will anything be done about it?
THE END