Egyptian scientists to hold archaeological digs in Azerbaijani occupied lands

Much has been written in Azerbaijan regarding existence of Muslim solidarity.

Not pursuing an intention to hurt anyone's religious feelings, I want to express my opinion that there are even no hints of such solidarity. Even unanimous position of the OIC member-states, which at each session includes the demand of immediate withdrawal of Armenia's armed troops from Azerbaijani occupied lands in their final resolution is not an indicator of Islamic solidarity. The point in the OIC resolution is rather a diplomacy than religion.

There is a sufficient number of arguments against solidarity. Iran's support to Armenia, isolated by Azerbaijan and Turkey, may top all possible arguments of the supporters of existence of Islamic solidarity. And this is already not the diplomacy of the Iranian side, as everybody is aware of the unofficial position of this country during the active period of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

Without taking in the details of process, a question arises whether we need such an Islamic solidarity for Azerbaijan, integrating with the world society, has not limited itself only with the Islamic world but spoke of the openness to the whole world and integration with the Euroatlantic area. It means that existence or absence of Islamic solidarity should not be a number one question.

However, each negative information, by any means interpreted in favor of arguments of absence of Islamic solidarity, is anyway frustrating, as 90% of Azerbaijani population practices Islam.

Such information referred to Egypt this time, if exactly, intentions of this country's scientists to take part in archeaological digs, held by Armenians in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan. Thus, the e-version of Egyptian Al-Ahram newspaper (www.ahram.org.eg) posted an article of journalist Mushir Musa according to which Egyptian experts will hold archaeological digs in Armenian Tigranakert.

It should be reminded that Armenian scientists announced the reveal of "ancient Armenian" city "Tigranakert" in the occupied Aghdam region last year. Azerbaijani scientists declared that Armenians call Aghdam, occupied by them, as Tigranakert. Our scientists suggested that the digs are held in the Aguen historical monument, famous to Azerbaijani historians since Soviet times and  dating to the Albanian period of the Azerbaijani history.

The Egyptian journalist notes in his article that by permission of the Egyptian Council on Archaeological monuments in summer a group of Egyptian archaeologists will leave for Armenia to take part in the digs of the ruins of ancient "Tigranakert". Moreover, the author of the article notes, that the ruins of the city were found by officials of the Institute of Archeology under Armenian National Academy of Science, led by doctor of historical sciences Hamlet Petrosyan. It is also reported that the project, connected with Tigranokert, is financed by Erkir NGO association. The article says as is the foundation of "Tigranakert" and adjacent settlements was laid by Great Tigran, whose empire extended to Diyarbakir settlement in Turkey from the one side and Syria from the other.

Thus, scientists of one Islamic state intend to hold archaeological digs in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan, a country, whose 90% population practices Islam. At the same time, they do not think about the fact of Armenia's occupation of a part of Azerbaijani lands or OIC resolution, to whom Egypt is a member.

The issue of the existence of the notorious Islamic solidarity remains open.

/Day.Az/