Azernews.Az

The United States embassy in Azerbaijan is aware of the circulating media reports about US senator Joe Simitian’s visit to the Armenia-occupied territories, but the California Senate member does not represent the US government, embassy spokesman Keith Bean has said.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has labeled Simitian "persona non grata" over the visit, which was paid without official authorization, and barred him from the country.

Bean said that according to the US Constitutional doctrine concerning the division of powers between the federal government and state governments, state officials are independent from the US authorities.

"The US government is not authorized to oversee their work schedule, and Simitian did not coordinate plans on his visit with the embassy," the spokesman said.

"Simitian’s possible visit to the occupied Azerbaijani territories does not change US policy on the issue [the Nagorno Karabakh conflict]. Just like other countries, including Armenia, the U.S. has not recognized the [self-proclaimed] Nagorno Karabakh Republic."

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev said that prior to heading to the occupied land through Armenia, Simitian held meetings in Azerbaijan, but he further illegally visited Nagorno Karabakh, disrespecting Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Abdullayev said those disrespecting Azerbaijan and its laws in the future will also be barred from the country.

The senator led a delegation of California lawmakers on their visit to Baku last week. Afterwards, Simitian visited Nagorno Karabakh, though other members of the US delegation refused to head to the occupied region with him.

Nagorno Karabakh has been occupied by Armenian armed forces since a 1994 cease-fire ended a war that killed an estimated 30,000 people and ousted up to one million Azerbaijanis from their homes.

The separatist regime in Nagorno Karabakh declared so-called independence at the time of the Soviet collapse in 1991, but it has not been recognized by the world community.