Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage needs serious revision; Armenia's Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan expressed such opinion in a talk with ArmInfo's correspondent.
"The problem is that the convention to some extent comes to a deadlock. In case of Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural Heritage everything is clear (if the monument is on the territory of the country, the country has the right to put it in UNESCO register). In case of intangible cultural heritage there are no definite criteria. This arises problems between the countries, for example between Azerbaijan and Armenia, South and North Korea", Poghosyan said.
"I think the Convention needs serious revision. And it is not coincidently that UNESCO wants that the countries work on joint projects. However this approach has no perspective, as this system will not work in case of Armenia and other countries, which have problems with their neighbours. That is why I think that the stand on Convention will be revised in the nearest future", the Minister said.
As it was noted, there are a lot of contradictory points in the Convention, on which attention should be paid.
Lavash, Armenian national epics <Sasuntsi David>, art of khachkar and duduk music are already included in the List of UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. Armenia will apply on inclusion of kochari dance in the list next year. Meanwhile, Armenia's each application becomes a subject of harsh criticism of Azerbaijan and accusations of plagiarism.
To note, Geghard monastery, Ejmiatsin Cathedral and churches, Zvartnots archaeological monument, Haghpat and Sanahin monasteries were included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage.
Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted on November 16, 1972 at the UNESCO General Conference.