Azeri MP proposes parliament resolution to stop foreign visits to Karabakh
Ekho, Baku
1 Sep 04
Text of E. Faxri’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho on 1 September
headlined “The ‘NKR’ is attracting foreigners” and subheaded “They
do not believe it in Azerbaijan”
A total of 1,610 foreign nationals from more than 50 countries
were registered at the “foreign ministry” of the “Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic [NKR]” (here and after the inverted commas are inserted by
us) from the beginning of 2004 through late August this year. The
consular department of the NKR reports that citizens of the USA,
France, Russia, Iran, Canada, Germany, Syria, Australia, the UK,
Lebanon, Israel, Turkmenistan and other countries have visited the
“NKR”. The number of visitors to the “NKR” rises by the year, the
Armenian media quoted the “NKR foreign ministry” as saying.
This is not the first time that information of this type has been
circulated in the Armenian media. They believe in Azerbaijan that
these reports are unlikely to be accurate. For example, the Armenian
media recently reported that the “NKR” is of touristic interest
to foreign nationals, though the [Azerbaijani] Ministry of Sports,
Youth and Tourism has pointed to the fact that any country respecting
itself would never have touristic contacts with an unrecognized entity
which is not even a member of the World Tourism Organization. Besides,
expatriates are cautious and would prefer to relax in a more stable
region where they would not be exposed to danger. National experts
believe that this misinformation aims at proving to the public that
the “NKR” is living a “full-fledged life”.
Azerbaijani MPs think that if the myths about the visits to the “NKR”
are after all true, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry should, of course,
issue an appropriate note. MP Zahid Oruc says the visits of foreign
nationals to the “NKR” without Azerbaijan’s official consent represent
a violation of the principles of international law – since the world
community has recognized Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. The
parliamentarian is proposing that a fuss should be made about “NKR”
visits, as was the cases with the “chess tournament” in Xankandi and a
BBC employee’s visit. “We have to intensify the struggle against these
undesirable elements in the Karabakh issue.” The MP suggests that
the Milli Maclis [Azerbaijani parliament] should adopt a resolution
on visits by foreign citizens to unrecognized Nagornyy Karabakh. In
parallel, he thinks, the [Azerbaijani] Foreign Ministry should
notify international organizations of illegal visits by expatriates
to Karabakh.
Another MP Ramiz Ahmadov expressed quite a sharp position on this
issue. He said the figures by the “NKR foreign ministry” point to the
inaction of the Azerbaijani authorities. He noted that the Azerbaijani
government had many times raised objections against visits by foreign
nationals to the “NKR”. However, he went on to say, the governments
of these countries justify the visits of their citizens by the fact
that these visits are private. Meanwhile, the MP is convinced that
none of the foreign businessmen will invest in the “NKR” without
the permission of his government. “The governments of the countries
indicated in the report approve of the visits of their citizens to
Karabakh. Then, officials of these countries state that the visits
of their nationals are private.” The MP blames everything on the
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, which, as he put it, is not even trying
to “punish” the foreign citizens who visit Azerbaijan after this.
In turn, a member of the parliamentary commission on national security
and defence, Alimammad Nuriyev, noted that Azerbaijan should demand
explanations from the governments of the mentioned countries within
the framework of the UN. The MP thinks that the visits to the “NKR”
will continue as long as Baku restricts itself only to statements.
Commenting to Ekho on the information by the “NKR foreign ministry”,
the director of the centre for legal aid to migrants, Alovsat Aliyev,
stressed that the occupied lands of Azerbaijan attract people with
a predisposition to crime. He said that expatriates go to Karabakh
via Armenia and with the permission of the Armenian authorities. The
expert said that the countries whose citizens visit Karabakh should
realize that they are going to sour relations with Azerbaijan in
this way. He said the countries indicated in the report by the “NKR
foreign ministry” should take precautions and stop their citizens
from visiting Nagornyy Karabakh.