ARMENIANS "GREET" ALIYEV IN ATHENS
Azad Or
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Feb 24, 2009
Athens (Azad Or) – Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and his delegation
were met with angry Armenian protesters when they arrived at the
Greek Chamber of Commerce for a meeting of Azeri and Greek business
leaders, in the presence of Greek President Carolos Papoulias and
Prime Minister Karamanlis.
The Armenian community of Greece heeded the call from the ARF
Dashnaktsoutiun Youth Organization and, gathered at the venue an hour
before the scheduled meeting by the Azeri president.
With Armenian tri-colours and the Karabakh flags waving, a large
banner that read "Aliyev, Stop the Aggression. Nagorno-Karabakh
is Already Independent," the crowd chanted "Karabakh is Armenian"
catching the Aliyev off guard as he exited his vehicle.
The Armenian community of Greece – especially the youth – had gathered
to raise their voices against the visit of the Azeri president
to Greece.
Aliyev’s Azeri security team was very aggressive toward the protesters
and pushed the Azad Or editor and Armenian photographers back and
stopped them, as representatives of the press, from entering the
building.
The Greek police also held back protesters, who refused to move from
their positions.
Soon thereafter, President Papoulias arrived and was greeted by
cheers from the protesters, who stayed put until the conclu sion
of the conference and Aliyev’s quick exit from the venue, where the
protesters continued their protest slogans.
During the meeting, Aliyev reiterated his anti-Armenian rhetoric,
saying that "Armenia has invaded and is occupying Azeri lands."
You can view the demonstration and the way the Armenians of Greece
greeted the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev by clicking here