Azerbaijan gives Russia protest note over RIA-Novosti article
Baku February, 26 (AZERTAC). Official Baku has summoned Russia`s Ambassador to hand him over a formal protest note after Russian news agency RIA-Novosti issued a pro-Armenian article about Azerbaijan`s occupied Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev received ambassador Vladimir Dorokhin to express Azerbaijan`s concerns and protest over the publication of the article titled “Nagorno-Karabakh got used to being unrecognized” on the eve of the anniversary of the Khojaly genocide.
The Deputy FM expressed regret over the fact that “recently there has been an increase in the number of the anti-Azerbaijani articles in the Russian media”.
Mammadguliyev noted the publication of the article by RIA-Novosti was particularly regretful, adding it casts a shadow on Russia`s activities as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, which was mediating the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.
The Deputy FM said the article did not reflect the reality and included calls for encouraging separatism and extremism. He said the article disregarded the principles of territorial integrity and fundamental principles of international law.
Mammadguliyev referred to a bilateral agreement on friendship, cooperation and mutual security between Azerbaijan and Russia, saying: “Article 5 of the agreement says that both states condemn all forms of separatism and take the obligation not to support separatist movements directed against the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the two states, and to ban and prevent the establishment and activities of such organizations, groups and individuals in their territories.”
The Deputy Minister said “this provocative article does not fit with the spirit of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia, and undermines the long-term good neighborhood relations between the two countries”.
Mammadguliyev expressed hope that the Russian authorities would closely examine the issue, and take appropriate measures.
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