Baku is ready to provide maps and drawings of ancient Yerevan to recreate the historic appearance of the capital of Armenia, administration official Fuad Akhundov told Interfax-Azerbaijan. Earlier, the Armenian authorities informed of their intention to restore the historic center of their capital.
"If Yerevan really wants to restore the historic character of the city, we can provide the Armenian side with paintings and drawings," the chief of department of social and political department of the presidential administration of Azerbaijan, Faud Akhundov said.
"In addition, there are pictures of famous European artists such as Tavernier, Chardin, in particular, Russian artists depicting in detail the Yerevani fortress of the XIX century," he said. In addition, a large number of drawings and plans of old Yerevan are stored in Russian archives, Akhundov said.
"I heard about a project called "Old Yerevan," which is talked about in the Armenian media. But curiously enough, instead of the real medieval center of Yerevan, which was gradually destroyed by the authorities during the Soviet era and now in a period of independence of Armenia, an architectural complex from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries will be reconstructed," Akhundov mused.
According to Akhundov, it is an attempt to distort the historic image of Yerevan.
He also recalled that, at the Palace of Sardar in the fortress of Erivan, Alexander Griboyedov wrote his comedy "Woe from Wit" in 1827. February 11, the day of Alexander Griboyedov "provides an occasion to reflect on the preservation of its heritage, including the memorable places connected with his life and work," said Akhundov.
He also proposed to open a museum in the palace and put a memorable plate. In order to do this, Yerevani authorities will have to restore the palace since in 1964 is has been destroyed.
"Yerevan, claiming the name of the ancient city, has no historical part. Those who destroyed the Erivan fortress of the XVI century, together with all the buildings, just because it was a masterpiece of Azerbaijani architecture are the ones to be blamed," - said the representative of the presidential administration of Azerbaijan.
