NAKHIJEVAN, NAGORNO KARABAKH, KELBAJAR AND LACHIN INCLUDED WITHIN BORDERS OF ARMENIA IN A TURKISH MAP

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 06 2007

ISTANBUL, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The artistic unit of
the Turkish ministry of culture recently released a disc-collection
of national anthems of Turkish-speaking countries, which created
some tension in relations of Azerbaijan and Turkey. The map on the
disc’s cover shows Nakhijevan, Nagorno Karaakh, Kelbajar and Lachin
as included within the borders of Armenia.

Noticing this, cultural advisor to the Turkish embassy in Baku Doc
Gedikli prohibited the sale of the disc in Azerbaijan. The letter
sent by the embassy to the Turkish ministry of culture says that
what has happened can be misinterpreted by the friendly Azerbaijan
and an impression can be created that Turkey does not respect the
territorial intgrity of Azerbaijan. So the map must be changed.

According to the newspaper "Marmara" (Istanbul), the disc has been
sent to embassies of many other countries and some other addresses,
and the Turkish ministry of culture considered the concern of the
embassy advisor as exaggerated, noting that the small-scale map is
not so remarkable and contains other inaccurate details.

In response to the question if this map is a handwork of Armenians,
spokesman for the ministry of culture noted that it was prepared
not by an Armenian but by a Turkish partner with strong nationalist
feelings. "It is not a notable map, but if necessary, it can be
changed," the ministry representative said.