Azeri embassy in Georgia not to issue visas to Armenian officers

ANS TV, Baku
19 Jun 04

[Presenter] The Azerbaijani embassy in Georgia has not yet issued
visas to Armenian officers who are trying to come to Baku. It must
be remembered that a NATO conference will take place in Baku in
three days.

[Correspondent] The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry does not see any
problem with the Armenian officers’ visit to our country. Deputy
Foreign Minister Araz Azimov today issued a statement which says –
quote, the issue is about NATO exercises which are important in terms
of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy interests and the future development of
the geopolitical situation in the region. Over 1,000 representatives
of NATO member states and other countries will take part in the
large-scale exercises. Some people’s attempts to discredit this big
event using Armenia’s representatives seem artificial and not serious,
end quote.

The statement says that the situation is not simple. It says that
Azerbaijan’s developing relations with NATO should not be hostage to
the country’s relations with Armenia. Intensifying discussions on the
issue will only blow the problem up and cause an unhealthy interest
in it. As a result, certain groups will try to use the situation in
their political interests. Araz Azimov said that protests against the
Azerbaijani side’s intention to permit the Armenian representatives
to visit our country will lead to the postponement of the conference
and to coolness in relations with NATO.

Azimov said that if the Armenian officers arrive in Azerbaijan, they
will be able to see Azerbaijan’s real achievements, understand what
kind of crisis Armenia has created for itself and see what people
have gained and lost.

The Azerbaijani embassy in Georgia has no intention of issuing visas
to the Armenian officers who want to take part in the NATO conference
in Baku on 22 June. The Armenians have already applied to the embassy
for visas, the Azerbaijani ambassador to Georgia, Ramiz Hasanov,
has told ANS.

[Hasanov over phone] How can we give them visas? There are no
diplomatic relations between the two countries. I mean in what form can
we issue visas to them? How can I put visas in their passports? There
is no way we can issue visas to them.

[Correspondent] The conference will take part in three days.

Rasad Isgandarov, ANS.