US WARNS CITIZENS AGAINST TRAVELING TO GARABAGH

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 5 2006

Baku, April 4, AssA-Irada
The US State Department has prohibited Americans from visiting the
Armenian-occupied Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh and sent a special warning
to US citizens of Armenian descent.

“US citizens must refrain from visiting Upper Garabagh and the
occupied territories surrounding it, as their security there cannot
be guaranteed,” says a special statement of the State Department’s
consular bureau.

The statement indicated further that although a ceasefire agreement was
reached in 1994, small pockets of hostilities are still in evidence
on the frontline. Since military action is still underway, there is
no consular service for Upper Garabagh which US citizens could use,
it said.

Touching on the crime situation in Azerbaijan, the State Department
said that while the rate of grave crimes is relatively low, the
muggings and attacks on foreigners have become regular. Those traveling
to Baku have to be prepared for assaults in any part of the city. It
is also recommended that visitors do not walk alone after the fall
of darkness and report all incidents to the police or the US embassy.