NKR coomments on Polish Foreign Ministry' attitude to foreigners' visits to Karabakh

Lately, the information of the Polish Foreign Ministry on the visit of European Parliament's Deputy, main rapporteur on Armenia Thomas Poreba to the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in December 2010, which was placed at the website of the Embassy of Poland to Azerbaijan, became a subject of speculations for the Baku's propaganda.

Surely, the information of the Polish Foreign Ministry on the undesirability of visits to the NKR is of recommendation-informational character, which is, in particular, confirmed by the absence of this information at the Polish Foreign Minsitry website. But, as usual, official Baku exaggerates the issue.

However, the position of the Polish authorities seems to be strange, as this country is one of the initiators of the EU Western Partnership Programme based on the principles of democracy and international law. Don't thus the Polish authorities violate the rights and freedoms of their own citizens? Especially that nobody has repealed the international conventions on the right to free movement and receipt of true information. It is quite suitable to ask Polish Foreign Minister, Mr Radoslav Sikorsky, whether this restriction concerns also Polish citizen Andrzej Kasprzyk.

Though, to all appearance, there are not many people impressed by the threats of the officials of Baku. Despite the fact that Baku considers foreign citizens' visits to Artsakh a crime, tens of thousands of foreign citizens – tourists, political figures, businessmen, artists, journalists, including representatives of the states maintaining most friendly relations with Azerbaijan, in particular, Turkey – visited NKR after the declaration of its independence.

Moreover, the number of foreign tourists visiting Artsakh, including from the EU states, is increasing from year to year. Many foreigners visit NKR repeatedly. The geography of the states, from which tourists arrive in Artsakh, is expanding. First in 2010, citizens of Gabon and Cot d’Ivuar visited NKR.

This testifies that the interest in Artsakh is increasing in the world from year to year, in spite of the active opposition of Azerbaijan and its announcement of foreign citizens visiting NKR personae non grata. The tourists are attracted by ancient historical monuments, rich nature and good ecology. But, the main wealth of the country, according to them, is its people’s benevolence and hospitality.

Surely, NKR will henceforth pay special attention to the Polish citizens who, ignoring any artificial bans, will visit NKR.

NKR Foreign Ministry Press Office