Turkish journalist declared ‘persona non grata’ after Garabagh visit
The Turkish journalist who has termed Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh, an Azerbaijani region under Armenian
occupation, as Armenia’s territory and visited the occupied
Azerbaijani territories without Baku’s authorization has been
included in the list of "personas non grata", Elkhan Polukhov, the
spokesman for the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry, said Tuesday.
Polukhov said any individual who pays unauthorized visits to the occupied land, regardless of their profession, is included in this list for defying Azerbaijan’s laws. "This applies both to journalists and representatives of non-governmental organizations and others."
Armenian media has reported that Nagehan Alci, a writer for the Akhsham newspaper, claimed in an interview, during a visit to Garabagh and other occupied territories, that Garabagh is Armenian land.
The Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry spokesman said that, according to the country’s general consulate in Istanbul, the Akhsham editorial office termed Alci’s visit accidental, saying it had not instructed her to visit the region.
"Taking into account the official response of the Akhsham editorial office, the issue of cooperating with this newspaper will still be considered," Polukhov added.
During the visit, Alci also failed to negate the alleged World War I-era genocide of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and favored opening of the Turkey-Armenia border.
Upper Garabagh is an historical Azerbaijani territory. Armenians were settled there in the early 19th century. Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict over the mountainous region for over a decade. OSCE-brokered peace talks kicked off after a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a shaky cease-fire in 1994. Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven adjacent Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law.*
Polukhov said any individual who pays unauthorized visits to the occupied land, regardless of their profession, is included in this list for defying Azerbaijan’s laws. "This applies both to journalists and representatives of non-governmental organizations and others."
Armenian media has reported that Nagehan Alci, a writer for the Akhsham newspaper, claimed in an interview, during a visit to Garabagh and other occupied territories, that Garabagh is Armenian land.
The Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry spokesman said that, according to the country’s general consulate in Istanbul, the Akhsham editorial office termed Alci’s visit accidental, saying it had not instructed her to visit the region.
"Taking into account the official response of the Akhsham editorial office, the issue of cooperating with this newspaper will still be considered," Polukhov added.
During the visit, Alci also failed to negate the alleged World War I-era genocide of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and favored opening of the Turkey-Armenia border.
Upper Garabagh is an historical Azerbaijani territory. Armenians were settled there in the early 19th century. Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict over the mountainous region for over a decade. OSCE-brokered peace talks kicked off after a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a shaky cease-fire in 1994. Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven adjacent Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law.*