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Iran's envoy downplays map of "greater Armenia" - Azeri TV
ANS TV, Baku
28 Dec 04
[Presenter] The Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan, Afshar Soleymani,
has accused Armenia of distorting history after the Armenian newspaper
Metsamor carried a map depicting Iran as part of greater Armenia.
[Correspondent over video of a map] Although it is not said where the
newspaper was printed, an Azerbaijani, who resides in Moscow and who
has given us the newspaper, has said that it is widely circulated in
Moscow. Each edition of the newspaper, which has a circulation of
5,000, carries this map. This can be considered an Armenian-style
gratitude to Iran, although Iran continues comprehensive cooperation
with Armenia - which runs counter to Azerbaijan's interests - and is
bending over backwards to make Armenia prosperous.
Perhaps the newspaper could have been neglected were it published by
an ordinary journalist. However, we must say that the editor-in-chief
of the newspaper is an academic who is well-known in Armenia. Still,
Iran's ambassador to Azerbaijan described the incident as ridiculous
and said that it posed no threat to Iran's territorial integrity.
[Soleymani, captioned, in his office, speaking Azeri] The person who
drew the map probably is poorly acquainted with both geography and
history. If he knew [the subjects], he might not have drawn it. There
are so many lies in this map and it is so groundless that in Iran this
newspaper would be used for wrapping dates.
[Correspondent] In order to damage the recent improvement in
Iran-Azerbaijan relations, the newspaper resorts to some dirty
tricks. For instance, the latest edition of the newspaper quoted the
late Imam Khomeyni as saying that he does not know such a nation as
Azerbaijanis. However, Soleymani said that these reports are wide of
the mark and Khomeyni always respected the Azerbaijanis.
[Soleymani] Imam Khomeyni, may God bestow His blessings upon him, has
never made such remarks. On the contrary, he always enjoyed good
relations with the Azerbaijanis and valued them. He always remembered
the role of the Azerbaijanis in Iran's history. This can be proved
from original sources.
[Correspondent] The ambassador advised us not to pay attention to this
drivel. However, Azerbaijan once did not take seriously the Armenian
claims on Nagornyy Karabakh.
ANS TV, Baku
28 Dec 04
[Presenter] The Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan, Afshar Soleymani,
has accused Armenia of distorting history after the Armenian newspaper
Metsamor carried a map depicting Iran as part of greater Armenia.
[Correspondent over video of a map] Although it is not said where the
newspaper was printed, an Azerbaijani, who resides in Moscow and who
has given us the newspaper, has said that it is widely circulated in
Moscow. Each edition of the newspaper, which has a circulation of
5,000, carries this map. This can be considered an Armenian-style
gratitude to Iran, although Iran continues comprehensive cooperation
with Armenia - which runs counter to Azerbaijan's interests - and is
bending over backwards to make Armenia prosperous.
Perhaps the newspaper could have been neglected were it published by
an ordinary journalist. However, we must say that the editor-in-chief
of the newspaper is an academic who is well-known in Armenia. Still,
Iran's ambassador to Azerbaijan described the incident as ridiculous
and said that it posed no threat to Iran's territorial integrity.
[Soleymani, captioned, in his office, speaking Azeri] The person who
drew the map probably is poorly acquainted with both geography and
history. If he knew [the subjects], he might not have drawn it. There
are so many lies in this map and it is so groundless that in Iran this
newspaper would be used for wrapping dates.
[Correspondent] In order to damage the recent improvement in
Iran-Azerbaijan relations, the newspaper resorts to some dirty
tricks. For instance, the latest edition of the newspaper quoted the
late Imam Khomeyni as saying that he does not know such a nation as
Azerbaijanis. However, Soleymani said that these reports are wide of
the mark and Khomeyni always respected the Azerbaijanis.
[Soleymani] Imam Khomeyni, may God bestow His blessings upon him, has
never made such remarks. On the contrary, he always enjoyed good
relations with the Azerbaijanis and valued them. He always remembered
the role of the Azerbaijanis in Iran's history. This can be proved
from original sources.
[Correspondent] The ambassador advised us not to pay attention to this
drivel. However, Azerbaijan once did not take seriously the Armenian
claims on Nagornyy Karabakh.