ArmInfo.A note from the Azerbaijani side in connection with the visit of the State Duma lawmaker, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs Konstantin Zatulin to Nagorno-Karabakh was received through diplomatic channels. This was announced on October 17 during a weekly briefing by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.
''I want to once again draw attention to the fact that on our website there is a warning published for a very long time but, unfortunately, few of those who want to travel to the corresponding region pay attention to it. So, we have a valid warning on our website that I quote: <the Azerbaijani side denies entry to those citizens visiting the territory of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region and 7 adjacent administrative regions without special permission of the Azerbaijani authorities." This is a relevant quote. This applies to everyone and reflects the position of the Azerbaijani authorities on this issue. The position of the Russian Foreign Ministry on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and ways to resolve it is well known and remains unchanged. As for the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh, all the assessments, all the statements made before by the Russian side, remain relevant. The status should be determined through political negotiations within the framework of the Minsk process, "Zakharova said. As for politicians, Russian ones in particular, she continued, representatives of the legislative branch or people representing civil society who make relevant statements on this subject," we proceed from the fact that they reflect their personal point of view. "" This may be an expert point of view or a political statement, but one way or another, the relevant institution of executive power expresses the official point of view on this issue. We have a presidential foreign policy, respectively, this is the prerogative of the Presidential Administration and relevant structures and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as other departments that are authorized to make such statements and reflect the position of the whole state, "Zakharova concluded. Earlier it became known that Azerbaijan sent an official note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation expressing concern of the Azerbaijani side in connection with the participation of Zatulin at events in Artsakh. Zatulin, reacting to the note of Azerbaijan, called the reaction of the Azerbaijani authorities to his visit to Nagorno-Karabakh hysterical. "Azerbaijan, like Ukraine, always arranges some indecent hysterics about the arrival of anyone anywhere," the parliamentarian said, adding that he stands for peace and does not sell weapons. According to him, the inadequacy of the Azerbaijani side has become a byword. He added that Baku assumes the right to determine what < our interests are>. It should be noted that on October 11, Konstantin Zatulin took part in Nagorno-Karabakh and spoke at the international forum "Friends of Artsakh: for justice and peace". During his speech, Zautlin said that the people of Artsakh demonstrate tremendous achievements in civilian life. People in Artsakh live a full-fledged life, opposing any incitement'', – said Zatulin, while noting that it was impossible not to touch upon the issue of recognizing Artsakh at the forum. According to him, everyone expects and hopes that good will and a sober approach to the settlement of the Karabakh conflict will triumph and peace will return to this land. At the same time, he added that there is no doubt that such a moment will never come when Nagorno-Karabakh loses its statehood. "I can say that the Russian Federation, as a mediator, promotes a peaceful resolution to the conflict and thwarts military attempts in every possible way. Such an attempt was made in April 2016, it was not part of the kind people's plan, and Russia did everything in its power to end it soon and reduce explosiveness. The settlement of the Karabakh conflict is a priority for us, "said Zatulin.
''But, one way or another, you can be sure that the Russian Federation as a state will not allow an unjust solution to the Karabakh conflict. I'm just sure of that. Whoever the president or the prime minister is, the Russian people first of all value conscience and justice. And they are on your side'', – concluded Zatulin.