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CNN TV channel has repeatedly aired its report about excavations in the ancient city of Tigranakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, despite numerous protests by Azerbaijan.

We will remind that spokesperson for the United States Embassy in Baku Keith Bean had said CNN is a private television station which itself forms its own editorial policy.

The report is available on the TV channel’s website and on YouTube.

In this connection, Vesti.az reports that “the Azerbaijani side has something to think about, because we have lately come to the popular TV channel with open arms, not even reminding that Azerbaijan has not forgotten that report.”

The point is that Azerbaijan wasted millions of dollars, ordering at CNN a range of ads and reports advertising the country. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism “in a bid to advertise the tourism opportunities through popular foreign TV channels” spent more than AZN 3 million (USD 3.7 million) in past 2 years. The spending will rise twice next year due to the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 to be hosted by Baku, Turan reports.

To compare, Georgia’s spending is mentioned. In 2011 Georgia’s government allocated USD 86 000 from the reserve fund “for shooting and airing an ad on CNN about country’s tourist potential.” To compare, according to the Statistical Committee, in 2010, 2 million tourists visited Georgia while 1 280 000 tourists visited Azerbaijan. Apparently, despite the equal purposes of budget spendings, the ratio of their investments and revenues is not directly proportional.