BAKU DEMANDS THAT EUROVISION “RESPECT TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY” OF AZERBAIJAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2006 18:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan
has sent a letter of protest to organizers of Eurovision song
contest. The Azeri Ministry of Culture “being extremely concerned”
that biography of Andre, a singer, who comes from Armenia, notes he
was born in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, sent a letter to organizers
of the contest. The letter says, “the fact should be considered as
disrespect of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and provocation
that can be interpreted as contest organizers’ supporting Armenia’s
aggressive policy.”

The letter emphasized that “Nagorno Karabakh is an inseparable part
of the Azerbaijani Republic. The world society knows that since
1988 Azerbaijan suffered from Armenia’s aggression. Resulting from
hostilities Nagorno Karabakh and adjacent territories that make 20%
of the territory of the Azerbaijani Republic were occupied. Over one
million people were driven out and became displaced persons.”

The message further notes that “the international community now focuses
on the peace talks with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group, and
facts like this one can have a negative impact on the process.”

Concluding, the letter expresses “confidence that organizers of
the contest, which serves to dialogue of cultures, will be able to
manage the misunderstanding and will display respect to territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan, recognized by the international community,”
Day.az reports.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress