PAKISTANI ENVOY VISITS FRONTLINE REGION

AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
June 14 2006

Pakistan has no political or economic relations with Armenia due to
the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, its ambassador in Baku Mohammad
Hafeez said during a visit to the western Tovuz region bordering on
Armenia on Thursday.

The ambassador told the press that this was his first visit to the
frontline areas and he would visit other borderline districts of the
country afterwards.

Although the Tovuz district is not part of Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh,
an Azeri region under Armenian occupation, civilians and residential
areas there are often subjected to shooting by Armenians.

During the visit, the Pakistani diplomat became familiar with the
living conditions of residents in the Alibayli village.

"I will share my impressions with ambassadors of other countries upon
returning to Baku. Let them come and see firsthand the suffering of
people living in the frontline territories," the ambassador added.

Parliament member Ganira Pashayeva, who initiated the envoy’s visit,
said she was holding discussions to arrange trips by ambassadors of
Western countries to the country’s frontline regions.

"Most of them have pledged to visit these areas. For instance, British
ambassador Laurie Bristow decided to tour the countryside in July or
August," she said.