Azeri authorities “blacklist” foreign companies working in Karabakh – paper
Zerkalo, Baku
30 Sep 04
The Azerbaijani authorities have instituted a blacklist of foreign
companies doing business in the self-declared Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic, Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo has reported. However, this
is a belated step, the report said. Zerkalo noted that it was not
worth spoiling relations with large foreign companies and instead
Azerbaijan could adopt a law regulating foreign financial assistance
to Nagornyy Karabakh. The following is an excerpt from R. Mirqadirov
report by Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo on 30 September headlined “Ice
is cracking?” and subheaded “Blacklist of companies working on occupied
territories compiled”; subheadings have been inserted editorially:
Belated statement
Azerbaijan has compiled a “blacklist” of foreign companies engaged in
illegal activity on Armenian-occupied territories, Trend news agency
has quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov as saying.
He said these companies, agencies and different bodies will be banned
from engaging in any activity on Azerbaijani territory. Also, appeals
will be sent to the governments of the countries they represent. Azimov
added that the Azerbaijani government will demand that international
sanctions be applied against them as well.
“Azerbaijan cannot turn a blind eye to the illegal tapping of natural
resources on its occupied territories and Armenia’s policy of illegal
settlement,” he said.
Considering the statements by Azerbaijani officials on the need for
palpable results in the Karabakh settlement and the restoration
of the country’s territorial integrity within one year, it seems
that Baku has “woken up” from the winter hibernation. Unfortunately,
rather late. And this is when a question arises: is it worth spoiling
relations with serious foreign companies which in some cases represent
influential countries?
Of course, we are not talking about Araz Azimov now. After all, he
has voiced the official position which, in fact, is quite right. But
then another pretty straightforward and rhetorical question arises:
why did we have to remain inactive for such a long time to develop
a position on such a mundane and clear issue?
Without mentioning other media outlets, Zerkalo alone has repeatedly
raised this topical issue over the past several years. And every
time we named the foreign companies and international organizations
working on occupied territories, including outside Nagornyy
Karabakh. Indifference to the fact that its natural resources are
squandered by a country at war with Azerbaijan, though not quite
officially, was beyond comprehension. Because first reports on
the exploration of gold deposits outside Nagornyy Karabakh emerged
almost 10 years ago. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan once even
showed gold ingots from those deposits to TV cameras. Meanwhile,
Baku remained “Olympic quiet” and tried to ignore media publications
and Kocharyan’s bravery.
At the same time, these belated steps, or to be more exact declarative
statements, can hardly be seen as complete. As mentioned, Azerbaijan’s
sovereignty over the occupied territories is violated not only by
foreign companies but also international organizations, funds, states
and even individual citizens of foreign countries.
Law needed to regulate foreign financial assistance to Karabakh
Let’s start with the end. In any country a violation of its borders
is a flagrant offence, which in Azerbaijan is even punishable. In
other words, any citizen of a foreign country who has visited Nagornyy
Karabakh without the Azerbaijani visa has violated our borders with
everything that entails.
As far as the activity of foreign companies on the occupied territories
is concerned, everything is quite clear. There can be no foreign
investment or entrepreneurial activity until a political settlement
to the Karabakh problem is reached. To prevent such activity, it is
necessary to engage all international legal instruments, including
judicial ones. The point is that by signing a contract to develop
a deposit on Azerbaijani territory with the government of Armenia
or the authorities of the so-called “Nagornyy Karabakh Republic”,
a foreign company not only violates international legal norms but
also inflicts enormous economic damage to us. And this must become
an object of consideration in international judicial bodies and
compensation must be sought for the damage caused.
I am not saying we should “deny entry” to the occupied territories,
including Nagornyy Karabakh, to all countries, international
organizations, funds, including humanitarian and human rights, and
foreign citizens. This, in fact, is not possible.
However, it is high time we adopted a law regulating foreign activity
on occupied territories. For instance, while it is impossible to ban
the provision of humanitarian assistance to the Karabakh population,
we can urge international organizations, including those representing
specific countries, to abide by legislative parameters of such
assistance. Then we will have a chance to exercise at least some
control over financial and other flows to Karabakh.
[Passage to end omitted: minor details]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress