ARMENIA PLEDGES TO ENSURE SECURITY OF AZERBAIJANI SPORTSMEN (UPDATE)

Trend
Sept 3 2009
Azerbaijan

Armenia has pledged to ensure the safety of Azerbaijani judokas in the
Youth European Championship to be held in Yerevan on September 9-14.

The agreement was signed between Azerbaijani and Armenian Ministers
of Youth and Sport, Azad Rahimov and Armen Grigoryan, Azerbaijani and
Armenian presidents of Judo Federation, Fizuli Alekperov and Alexan
Avetisyan, as well as members of the European Judo Federation and the
Executive Committee of the European Olympic Committee, the Azerbaijani
Ministry of Youth and Sport said on September 2.

The agreement stipulates that Armenia must bear the responsibility
for the security of Azerbaijani sportsmen from the moment of their
entry till their departure from Armenia, and to ensure they can get
in communication and attend training.

The document said that during the Championship the Azerbaijani
flag must be among the flags of other countries. If an Azerbaijani
sportsman wins, the Azerbaijani state flag will be raised and the
national anthem will be performed. All participants of the championship
will stand while listening to the anthem. Armenia must also ensure
free participation in the championships for journalists accredited
by the International Olympic Committee and provide free access to
the Internet.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7
districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed
a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia,
France, and the U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.