RUSSIA WILL REPLY TO AZERBAIJAN’S SECOND NOTE SOON – AMBASSADOR

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 7 2007

"Russia last week replied to Azerbaijan’s first note. We will present
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Russia’s reply to the second note as
soon as we receive it. I think the second note will be replied soon,"
said Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vasili Istratov.

The procedure of responding to the notes is not offended. "Do not
think that Azerbaijan responds to our notes immediately as well
as other states. Sometimes the replies to the notes may delay and
sometimes the notes are not replied."

As to the Great Russian Encyclopedia’s introduction of so called
"Nagorno Karabakh Republic" as independent, the ambassador said he
does not agree with the publication’s view.

"I have read the Encyclopedia. Encyclopedia is published by private
editorial office. So it can not be censored. Soviet Glavlit does not
function in the current Russia to censor the publications. Azerbaijan
has right to express its views and I respect this right. It means that
the Russian Federation has no power to influence private publication
in any form. The book gives the simplified position on the issue. It
is forgotten that Russia does not recognize Karabakh republic and
holds the position that Karabakh is Azerbaijan’s territory," the
ambassador underlined.