"ECHO": UNITED KINGDOM TO RECOMMEND ITS CITIZENS NOT TO GO TO GARABAGH
R. Kerimov

DemAz.org, Azerbaijan
Dec 18 2007

And UK recognizes territorial integrity of Azerbaijan UK authorities
support territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and recommend UK citizens
not to visit occupied Upper Garabagh. UK Minister on European issues,
Jim Murphy, declared it in the course of meeting with Ambassador of
the Republic of Azerbaijan to UK, Fahraddin Gurbanov. As head of press
service of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Khazar Ibrahim, informed "Echo" meeting of diplomats was held within
the frames of discussion of the issue on activities of British tour
operator Sunvil Discovery, which organized tours to the Upper Garabagh
contrary to recommendations not to visit occupied territories. We
should point out that official Baku has already expressed its protest
to London.

London tour operator proposes 10-day tours to Nagorni Garabagh
occupied by Armenia, web site of the operator reads. Cost of tour is
1627 pound sterling, including flight, half board, tickets and small
expenses. Sunvil Discovery also organizes individual tours following
this itinerary.

"To date we haven’t been informed about Upper Garabagh conflict", head
of public relation section of tour agency, Sarah Belcher, declared
for "Trend". British Association of tour agencies the member of which
is Sunvil Discovery, informed that company should inform its clients
where they are going, but Association can’t cancel this program. "We
can’t interfere in this case. It is individual choice of tour operator
and its clients", said representatives of Association.

Organization of tours to the Upper Garabagh is illegal as it
contradicts to principles of international law. Territories are
occupied by Armenia. It is possible to go there only through Azerbaijan
as it is Azerbaijani territory. Moreover it is dangerous zone and
such tours may lead to different, unwanted consequences. We have a
lot of reason for indignation, stressed in turn Kh. Ibrahim.

"We hope official London will take steps to prevent further
activities of such kind, but laws vary from state to state and
activities of companies are regulated by different standards of
legislation. Nevertheless, we hope decision will be substantial and
such kinds of actions will be prevented. We hope this issue will be
solved at the level of our partnership relations, on the other hand,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs is endeavoring to use all diplomatic
resources but if the matter is not solved we will take steps to solve
the matter", said representative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Azerbaijan. Diplomat preferred to be silent about steps.

"Influence on this company is complicated issue, tour firms are
not subordinated to British state structures, they are free to
choose place of tourism", – member of permanent MM commission on
international and inter-parliamentary issues, Nasib Nasibli, commented
possible steps. Following to him, the fact that UK warns tourists,
that the Upper Garabagh is dangerous place to visit "can be taken as
friendly step towards Azerbaijan". But how Sunvil Discovery can be
influenced? "It si complicated question as UK is democratic state where
laws say that tour firms are free to choose itinerary", declared deputy