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 Hans-Joachim Watzke, the CEO of Borussia Dortmund, said Karabakh conflict is the main reason of the club’s decision not to take the Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Baku match against the Azerbaijani Gabala, azerisport.com reports.

“We have talked to him. It is the best decision for all involved,” Watzke said. “It is not an ordinary conflict. That is why we made this decision thinking about the obligations and care about the players.”

Former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Richard Kauzlarich, also touched on the topic. He wrote on his Twitter that Azerbaijan should have granted Mkhitaryan a visa to show hospitality. “Missed opportunity for Azerbaijan to show it is a tolerant, multicultural society,” he tweeted.

In another post, the former ambassador wrote that Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents must directly resolve Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through peaceful negotiations. He pointed out that the unresolved conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan threatens energy flows for the Caspian region to reach global energy markets.

Earlier, media reported that Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the Armenian midfielder of the German football club Borussia Dortmund, may miss the Europa League group stage match with the Azerbaijani Qabala in Baku because of his visit to Nagorno Karabakh Republic. In case he arrives in Baku, he may be arrested.

The UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino said UEFA supports the clubs in organizing the away matches and addresses the problems with obtaining visas. “I think the situation around Mkhitaryan’s visit to Azerbaijan will not be an exception,” Infantino said. However, in case Mkhitaryan faces problems regarding his visit for Europa League match, UEFA (the Union of European Football Associations) intends to support him.

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Watzke: There are security concerns for Henrikh Mkhitaryan in Baku 
Azerbaijan threatens to arrest German Borussia’s Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan