Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh: Euronews greatly harms settlement of Karabakh conflict

"Azerbaijani Community of Azerbaijan Republic’s Nagorno-Karabakh region" Public Union has issued a statement on a televised report aired on Euronews TV channel.

The statement expresses protest against the biased report aiming to form wrong public opinion on Nagorno-Karabakh.

“We express our protest against the biased report aired on Euronews aiming to form wrong public opinion on Nagorno-Karabakh. Euronews correspondents, who were sent to Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan Republic, prepared a report “Winds of change in Nagorno-Karabakh” contradicting traditions of the channel. It is noted several times in the report that “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic” is an independent state. This report has anti-Azerbaijan character," the statement said.

"The church in Nagorno-Karabakh is shown in the report, it is noted that the region is a part of Armenia both from religious and moral aspect. It causes regret that nothing is said about 17 mosques in Shusha. The worst of it is that such biased report aiming to confuse Europe’s public opinion was repeatedly broadcast on the channel."

"Nagorno-Karabakh is native and eternal land of Azerbaijan," said the statement.

"20 percent of Azerbaijani lands were occupied as a result of Armenian aggression, Azerbaijani historical and cultural monuments were destroyed due to Armenian vandalism, more than one million people were expelled from their homeland and turned into refugees and internally displaced persons. UN, Council of Europe, OSCE, Organization of the Islamic Conference and other influential international organizations declared Armenia as an invader country and condemned ethnic cleansing policy it pursued," it said in a statement.

"Unfortunately director of the Belgium’s Luven Catholic University Academic Council, Professor Bernard Koulie called Nagorno-Karabakh “attractive and unique region of Armenian culture” and “heart of Armenia”. He introduced Nagorno-Karabakh as an “independent country” and leader of separatists as a “president” of that so-called “country”. Public Union of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan is strongly protesting such claims, which are based on the clear and gross distortion of the historic-political facts”.

"The sabotage-characterized report of the TV channel, which has large audience, reduces hopes for fair solution to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," said the statement.

“Euronews non-objective and preconceived report greatly harms settlement process conducted through the OSCE mediation and impedes peace, stability and mutual trust in the region. The TV channel is unaware of that Nagorno-Karabakh is a historic land of Azerbaijan, it was always populated by Azerbaijanis and Armenians settled there in 19th century and its is unacceptable that it doesn’t know this reality. 25.37 percent of Euronews shares are owned by French National Broadcasting Corporation and 16.94 percent – by Russian National Broadcasting Company which has negative impact on the positions of France and Russia, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We hope that Euronews will inform its large audience also about position of Azerbaijani community and work hard to objectively cover historic realities."

/APA/