AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
Dec 17 2009
Protest to Euronews
17-12-2009 07:46:03
Recent broadcast of a program devoted to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh conflict on Euronews has sparked public outcry in
Azerbaijan.
Many Azerbaijani viewers of Euronews have begun to seriously question
the impartiality of the TV channel, which enjoys wide popularity in
the country.
In this connection, the staff of AssA-Irada News Agency and AzerNEWS
Weekly have sent a letter to the top managers of Euronews expressing
their protest and requesting that the TV channel broadcast a truthful
program about Garabagh, thus confirming its objectiveness and
impartiality.
The text of the said letter is provided below.
Date: December 15, 2009
To: Mr. Philippe Cayla
President & CEO, Euronews
Mr. Michael Peters
Managing Director, Euronews
Mr. Peter Barabas
Editor-in-Chief, Euronews
Esteemed sirs,
As employees of AssA-Irada News Agency/AzerNEWS Newspaper, we are
writing in connection with your recent broadcast of a program devoted
to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict.
After this program aired, we, as long-time viewers of Euronews, began
to seriously question the impartiality of your TV channel. Our views
are shared by many other Azerbaijani viewers of Euronews, a TV channel
enjoying wide popularity in Azerbaijan.
The point is that the program in question did not have a single
reference to the fact that Upper Garabagh is internationally
recognized as being part of Azerbaijan. Moreover, the program’s hosts
repeatedly described the region as "the Upper Garabagh Armenian
state", which runs counter to all norms of international law.
This description, broadcast by your channel, contradicts the fact that
the Upper Garabagh region has been recognized as an integral part of
Azerbaijan by nearly all world countries, as well as international
organizations, including the United Nations, the European Union, ECO,
OIC and others.
Besides, the program made no mention of the Azerbaijanis of Garabagh
who were victims of genocide and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by
Armenian separatists. It is noteworthy that the mass annihilation of
Azerbaijanis and their eviction from Garabagh has been condemned by
the world community (if necessary, relevant official documents can be
provided).
Garabagh is an historical Azerbaijani territory which, beginning in
the early 19th century, had been gradually settled by Armenians in the
aftermath of the colonial policy pursued by then-Tzarist Russia.
The very word "Garabagh" (translated from Azerbaijani as "Great
Gardens"), proves that this territory is an ancient Azerbaijani land.
And this land has been called by this name for many centuries.
Holding Euronews in deep respect, we request that you broadcast a
truthful program about Garabagh, thus confirming the objectiveness and
impartiality of your TV channel. *
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
