Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 7 2004

ADDRESS OF MINISTRY OF CULTURE TO HEADS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND
STRUCTURES, JURIDICAL AND PHYSICAL PERSONS ENGAGED IN ARRANGING
CONCERTS IN AZERBAIJAN
[September 07, 2004, 17:55:49]

Renowned artists from the Russian Federation and a number of
other countries have given concerts in Nagorno-Karabakh province of
Azerbaijan. The other day, singers Nadezhda Babkina, Soso Pavliashvili,
Valentina Legkostupova, Aleksandr Peskov, Irina Otiyeva and rock group
“Chay Vdvoyom” have performed for the “long-suffering Armenians” in
Khankendi, an integral part of the Azerbaijan Republic. Arriving in
Khankendi illegally through the territory of Armenia without reaching
any agreement on the concert with relevant state, public of private
structures of Azerbaijan Republic, the Russian entertainers thus have
frankly shown disrespect for the people and workers of culture of
Azerbaijan. The most distressing is that many of the above-mentioned
artists had had concert tours of and participated in various cultural
events in Azerbaijan more than once. Every time and everywhere they
had been shown respect and hospitality of our people, and many had
been paid non-adequately high fees.

In this connection, the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan Republic has
sent a letter of protest to Minister of Culture and Mass Communications
of the Russian Federation A. Sokolov.

Regarding this action by the Russian Artists as a fact negatively
effecting the steadily developing Azerbaijan-Russia cultural ties,
the Ministry of Culture of the Azerbaijan Republic hereby expresses
its resolute stance: these artists will no longer be invited to
Azerbaijan Republic.

Addressing the heads of organizations and structures, as well as
juridical and physical persons engaged in arranging concert in
Azerbaijan, we call on them to hold a civil position, and back the
address of the Ministry of Culture by suppressing such actions in
the future.

Until the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not settles,
territorial integrity of our state is not restored, artists performing
in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, irrespective of their
ethnic belonging, are not worthy of being invited to participate in
our mass cultural events.

We express hope that all the organizations, juridical and physical
persons engaged in concert activity will take up our call.

Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan Republic.