Politics 14:51 15/04/2016 World

Latvian MP on Azerbaijani MFA’s “black list”: Sanctions for getting information from primary source are wrong practice

The press secretary of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday informed about the intention to include the Latvian Saeima deputy Sergejs Potapkins in “the black list” for visiting the Nagorno Karabakh Republic during the conflict escalation on the contact line between the Karabakh and Azerbaijani forces.

Panorama.am reached for the Latvian MP for a comment.

What were the circumstances and goals of your visit to the Nagorno Karabakh Republic?

For already a couple of years, I have been heading the Latvia - Armenia Interparliamentary Co-operation Group. We call such groups “friendship groups” for simplicity. Indeed, we have established friendly relations with the Armenian ambassador Araik Ayvazyan and diaspora representatives. We meet regularly and cooperate intensively, including on sensitive or critical issues. Last year, we opened an exhibition in Riga with them dedicated to the Armenian Genocide Centennial. 

An intensive inter-parliamentary cooperation is being established between Latvia and Armenia. We have received the NA Vice president Eduard Sharmazanov on several occasions, and the president of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, visited our country last year in the frameworks of the Latvian Presidency in the Council of Europe.

When I read the news about the recommencement of military action in the NKR, I immediately called the Armenian ambassador to wish a quick ceasefire and to learn about how the situation was developing.

Later, Mr. Sharmazanov offered me to visit the region personally as an observer. As the chairman of the friendship group, I did not hesitate to accept the offer.

Have you witnessed the situation in the border regions affected by the shelling of the Azerbaijani side?
Fortunately, by the time I arrived in Yerevan, the military action in the conflict zone had already stopped. We visited the Yerablur memorial to the victims and laid flowers on the fresh graves. My greatest wish was that their number did not increase and that civilians did not wake up at nights from the artillery cannonade sounds.

Are you already informed about the Azerbaijani side’s reaction to your visit to the NKR? Did you know about the existence of the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry's “black list"? And, how will you comment on the official Baku’s position?

The Press Service of the Azerbaijani MFA has stated that it considers my visit a provocation and intends to include me in the “black list.”

I do not see any provocation in calls for preventing civilian victims, for ceasefire and peaceful settlement. To provoke the sides to a further development of the conflict was not certainly among the goals of the visit. On the contrary, in that way, I wanted to show the civilians of Nagorno Karabakh that the “frozen conflict” status does not mean that they no longer exist for the rest of the world, and that the news about the four-day war has not gone unnoticed against other events taking place worldwide.

As for the existence of the “black list,” I was aware of that practice and I knew that my visit could cause such a sharp reaction from Baku. Nevertheless, it was a considerate decision, and I think it is wrong to impose sanctions against people who arrive as observers in order to get information from the primary source and declare about the inadmissibility of the attempts to resolve regional conflicts in a military way.



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

13:36
Russian gas supply to Armenia suspended
Russian natural gas supply to Armenia has been temporarily halted due to emergency repairs on the Kazakh-Saguramo pipeline in Georgia. In a...
13:15
John Krasinski named People's Sexiest Man Alive
People magazine has named John Krasinski the 2024 Sexiest Man Alive. Krasinski was revealed to be the newest winner of the honorable title...
12:55
'No Armenian is safe': Ruben Vardanyan's son urges action on political prisoners held in Baku
In a heartfelt and compelling video, David Vardanyan, the son of Armenian humanitarian and former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan,...
12:30
Armenian FM, Stockholm City Council chair discuss cooperation opportunities
On November 12, within the framework of his visit to Sweden, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with President of the Stockholm City...
12:05
Azerbaijan, the rogue state hosting COP29: Artak Beglaryan's interview to Le Figaro
Artak Beglaryan, president of the Artsakh Union, former State Minister and Human rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh, gave an interview...
11:45
Trump names Elon Musk to lead new 'government efficiency' department
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday he's tapped tech billionaire Elon Musk, Tesla and SpaceX CEO, and former Republican...
11:30
Armenia's Aleks Sahakyan to be awarded IM title
Armenian chess player Aleks Sahakyan overcame the 2400 rating threshold within the framework of the World Youth Chess Championship and will be...
11:15
Armenians now have a new target: Jordan for buckling under Azerbaijan's pressure
By Harut Sassounian www.thecaliforniacourier.com As if Armenians did not have enough problems to deal with, they must now insist that...
11:00
Greta Thunberg arrives In Armenia, boycotting COP29 In Baku
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg arrived in Armenia on Tuesday after announcing a boycott of the COP29 UN climate summit in...
17:00
Rain, snow expected in Armenia on Tuesday
Rain and snow are expected in some parts of Armenia on Tuesday and over the weekend. Clear weather is forecast for the next three days....
16:45
Melania Trump expected to skip White House meeting with Jill Biden
Melania Trump is not expected to attend the traditional White House meeting with first lady Jill Biden, CNN reported, citing sources...
16:31
Urartu names new director
FC Urartu has named Davit Shakhbagyan as the club’s new general director. The specialist has been part of the club since 2015, it said...
16:06
Ruling party blocks statement on Armenian prisoners
The parliamentary faction of Armenia's ruling Civil Contract party on Tuesday blocked a statement demanding the release of...
15:30
Negotiations with Snoop Dogg continue for Yerevan concert, ministry says
The new date for the concert of famous American rapper Snoop Dogg in Yerevan remains unknown. The concert, which was initially scheduled for...
15:02
India reportedly ships first Akash air defence missile system battery to Armenia
India marks another milestone in its defence export as it shipped the first Akash weapon system battery to Armenia. This is the second missile...
14:34
Trump picks Kristi Noem as his Homeland Security secretary
President-elect Donald Trump has selected South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as his next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, CNN...
14:15
Four arrested after raids at Yerevan district administration
Four people, including officials, were arrested on Tuesday after law-enforcement authorities raided Yerevan's Kentron district...
13:36
Armenian Foreign Ministry explains Mirzoyan's statement on customs simplifications with Azerbaijan
At the ministerial meeting of the 3+3 regional consultative platform held in Istanbul on October 18, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan...
13:08
Bitcoin tops $89,000
Bitcoin’s record-breaking rally took the digital asset past $89,000 and lifted the overall value of the crypto market above its...
12:36
Armenia sees rise in pneumonia mortality rate
World Pneumonia Day is observed annually on November 12 to raise awareness about pneumonia, a life-threatening but preventable and...
12:13
Opposition urges parliament majority to join statement on Armenian prisoners
The opposition Hayastan and Pativ Unem factions in the Armenian parliament have initiated a special sitting on the issue of Armenian prisoners...
11:36
Presidential office denies reports of Vahagn Khachaturyan's hospitalization
The Armenian presidential office has denied reports about President Vahagn Khachaturyan’s hospitalization. “Reports alleging...
11:15
WCC, World Evangelical Alliance and global partners call for immediate release of Armenian prisoners
The World Evangelical Alliance, in collaboration with the World Council of Churches (WCC), Christian Solidarity International, and a coalition...
11:00
Michel, Aliyev discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization
European Council President Charles Michel discussed the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev....
17:17
Armenia wins six medals at World Sambo Championships
Armenian sambo fighters captured six medals, including two silver and four bronze, at the 2024 World Sambo Championships held in Astana,...
16:57
Azerbaijani regime ethnically cleansed Nagorno-Karabakh, new report says
The Azerbaijani regime engaged in ethnic cleansing against the ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, according to a report released...
16:36
Armenian church leader off to India
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II on Monday travelled to India on a patriarchal visit at the invitation of the church department of Kolkata...
16:16
Deputy FM: Yerevan, Baku still disagree on some issues
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan says that differences remain with Azerbaijan over the draft text of a peace treaty....
15:32
Armenian MP: Azerbaijan toughened rhetoric ahead of COP29
Azerbaijan’s rhetoric has significantly toughened ahead of COP29, Armenian opposition MP Tigran Abrahamyan says. “Its causes are...
15:14
Georgia president calls for fresh parliamentary elections
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili on Monday called for fresh parliamentary elections to resolve a crisis sparked by last month's vote...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}