MISSION OF NKR OFFICE TO US TO LOBBY INTERESTS OF ITS COUNTRY

Washington, April 12. ArmInfo. Like the other diplomatic offices in
Washington, the office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic represents
and lobbies the interests of its country, says the NKR permanent
representative to the US Vardan Barseghian.

He says that the NKR diplomatic representation to the US was
registered by the US Justice Department in 1999 as the Office of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic to the United States and has a legal
status. All foreign representations to the US are registered by that
department. But because the NKR is not officially recognized the NKR
office to the US has a bit different status. The NKR representative
to the US like other NKR representatives are appointed by the NKR
president.

To note, a few days ago the US Justice Department published a report
on the activities of lobby companies representing the interests of
foreign states, organizations and individuals in the US. 135 states
and territories like Tibet and Hong Kong, officially considered as
part of China, and Nagorny Karabakh, de jure part of Azerbaijan,
have their lobbyists in Washington. Registration of the lobbyist of
an unrecognized state does not mean its official recognition by the US.

The report says that Azerbaijan uses the service of three firms: JWI
(public relations), Linvingston Group (political advising) and White &
Case (lobbying).