Azernews.Az

Recent broadcast of a program devoted to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict on Euronews has sparked public outcry in Azerbaijan.
Many Azerbaijani viewers of Euronews have begun to seriously question the impartiality of the TV channel, which enjoys wide popularity in the country.
In this connection, the staff of AssA-Irada News Agency and AzerNEWS Weekly have sent a letter to the top managers of Euronews expressing their protest and requesting that the TV channel broadcast a truthful program about Garabagh, thus confirming its objectiveness and impartiality.
The text of the said letter is provided below.

Date: December 15, 2009

To: Mr. Philippe Cayla
President & CEO, Euronews
Mr. Michael Peters
Managing Director, Euronews
Mr. Peter Barabas
Editor-in-Chief, Euronews

Esteemed sirs,
As employees of AssA-Irada News Agency/AzerNEWS Newspaper, we are writing in connection with your recent broadcast of a program devoted to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict.
After this program aired, we, as long-time viewers of Euronews, began to seriously question the impartiality of your TV channel. Our views are shared by many other Azerbaijani viewers of Euronews, a TV channel enjoying wide popularity in Azerbaijan.
The point is that the program in question did not have a single reference to the fact that Upper Garabagh is internationally recognized as being part of Azerbaijan. Moreover, the program's hosts repeatedly described the region as "the Upper Garabagh Armenian state", which runs counter to all norms of international law.
This description, broadcast by your channel, contradicts the fact that the Upper Garabagh region has been recognized as an integral part of Azerbaijan by nearly all world countries, as well as international organizations, including the United Nations, the European Union, ECO, OIC and others.
Besides, the program made no mention of the Azerbaijanis of Garabagh who were victims of genocide and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by Armenian separatists. It is noteworthy that the mass annihilation of Azerbaijanis and their eviction from Garabagh has been condemned by the world community (if necessary, relevant official documents can be provided).
Garabagh is an historical Azerbaijani territory which, beginning in the early 19th century, had been gradually settled by Armenians in the aftermath of the colonial policy pursued by then-Tzarist Russia.
The very word "Garabagh" (translated from Azerbaijani as "Great Gardens"), proves that this territory is an ancient Azerbaijani land. And this land has been called by this name for many centuries.
Holding Euronews in deep respect, we request that you broadcast a truthful program about Garabagh, thus confirming the objectiveness and impartiality of your TV channel. *