MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on protecting Armenian heritage in Turkey

B9‑0235/2020

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on protecting Armenian heritage in Turkey

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Article 167 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which provides that ‘[t]he Union and the Member States shall foster cooperation with third countries and the competent international organisations in the sphere of culture’,

– having regard to Rule 143 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Turkey is responsible for preserving and safeguarding Armenian cultural heritage;

B. whereas some of the population is engaging in deliberate acts of destruction such as ‘treasure hunts’ in a search for gold in the ruins;

1. Notes that Turkey has not taken measures to curb the disappearance of historic Armenian heritage;

2. Stresses the urgency of protecting a heritage that consisted, before 1915, of several thousand monasteries and churches and which is now being destroyed;

3. Recalls Turkey’s responsibility in the matter of heritage, Istanbul having been chosen in 2010 as one of the European Capitals of Culture;

4. Calls on Turkey to make salvaging the remains of this heritage a priority in cultural policy and to regard the outcome as a condition for retaining its privileged relationship with the European Union.