Sergei Shahverdyan, who heads the Department of Tourism in Karabakh told "Hetq" that in 2009 some 350 million drams will be allocated for the preservation of cultural and historical monuments in the country. Mr. Shahverdyan stated that the amounts needed for the program already approved by the NKR government had been included in the new budget. The preservation projects include restoration work at the Amaras monastery, Gtchavank, Ouloubab Ptkes monastery, the Togh princely palace, etc. Conservation work will also be carried out on the Askeran castle and Jankatagh chapel. Archeological excavations are planned for the Azokh caves and at Tigranakert. Mr. Shahverdyan noted that 14.5 million drams had been earmarked for the preservation of Islamic cultural monuments, an increase over the 10 million allocated from the reserve fund last year.