BAKU IRKED BY CALIFORNIA OFFICIALS' VISIT TO ARTSAKH
http://asbarez.com/114012/baku-irked-by-california-officials%E2%80%99-visit-to-artsakh/
Wednesday, September 18th, 2013
Azeri Foreign Ministry Spokesman Elman Abdullayev
LOS ANGELES-Amid news of the visit to Artsakh by a delegation of
California elected officials, organized with the help of the Armenian
National Committee of America-Western Region, the foreign ministry
of Azerbaijan has made an announcement that the officials will be
banned from visiting Azerbaijan in the future, as the Baku's new
policy dictates.
The Azeri foreign ministry's spokesperson, Elman Abdullayev, expressed
anger at the planned visit and confirmed that the delegation, which
includes California Speaker of the House John Perez and Los Angeles
City Council Member Bob Blumenfield, will be added to Azerbaijan's
newly invented list of personae non gratae.
The Azeri government announced this policy in August of 2013 and
has so far added more than 300 government officials, journalists,
and renowned artists on its blacklist.
Prior to the visit, the Turkish-Azeri lobby in California sent online
instructions to its followers, asking to help stop the planned visit.
The Turkish-Azeri lobby accused the ANCA of being deceitful and
interfering in American foreign policy.
ANCA Western Region Chair Nora Hovsepian, speaking to PanArmenian.net,
said, "We are proud to serve as a bridge between government
representatives and the people of California and Armenia and are
looking forward to what promises to be a very memorable trip that
will set the foundation for similar visits with other officials in
the future."
The former Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles, Grigor
Hovhannissian, who helped to arrange the visit, said, "The California
State legislative delegation to Armenia is a long overdue and
groundbreaking development. We are very pleased that Speaker Perez
and a bipartisan group of legislators will be arriving in our country
at the invitation of the Governments of Armenia and Artsakh."
He added, "We are hopeful that this first in kind mission would leave
a lasting impact and contribute to strengthening political contacts
between the Republic of Armenia and the great State of California."
From: A. Papazian
http://asbarez.com/114012/baku-irked-by-california-officials%E2%80%99-visit-to-artsakh/
Wednesday, September 18th, 2013
Azeri Foreign Ministry Spokesman Elman Abdullayev
LOS ANGELES-Amid news of the visit to Artsakh by a delegation of
California elected officials, organized with the help of the Armenian
National Committee of America-Western Region, the foreign ministry
of Azerbaijan has made an announcement that the officials will be
banned from visiting Azerbaijan in the future, as the Baku's new
policy dictates.
The Azeri foreign ministry's spokesperson, Elman Abdullayev, expressed
anger at the planned visit and confirmed that the delegation, which
includes California Speaker of the House John Perez and Los Angeles
City Council Member Bob Blumenfield, will be added to Azerbaijan's
newly invented list of personae non gratae.
The Azeri government announced this policy in August of 2013 and
has so far added more than 300 government officials, journalists,
and renowned artists on its blacklist.
Prior to the visit, the Turkish-Azeri lobby in California sent online
instructions to its followers, asking to help stop the planned visit.
The Turkish-Azeri lobby accused the ANCA of being deceitful and
interfering in American foreign policy.
ANCA Western Region Chair Nora Hovsepian, speaking to PanArmenian.net,
said, "We are proud to serve as a bridge between government
representatives and the people of California and Armenia and are
looking forward to what promises to be a very memorable trip that
will set the foundation for similar visits with other officials in
the future."
The former Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles, Grigor
Hovhannissian, who helped to arrange the visit, said, "The California
State legislative delegation to Armenia is a long overdue and
groundbreaking development. We are very pleased that Speaker Perez
and a bipartisan group of legislators will be arriving in our country
at the invitation of the Governments of Armenia and Artsakh."
He added, "We are hopeful that this first in kind mission would leave
a lasting impact and contribute to strengthening political contacts
between the Republic of Armenia and the great State of California."
From: A. Papazian