Azerbaijan sets rules for foreign media

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement today that Yerevan is making attempts to divert attention from the political and legal responsibility for the tension that has arisen on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops as a result of provocative actions of Armenian armed forces which began on April 2 and for the shelling of the areas densely populated by Azerbaijanis along the contact line, which left a number of civilians dead and wounded, APA reports.

Moreover, Yerevan is trying to organize the trip of representatives of the foreign media to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by deceiving the international community, the statement added.
 
According to the statement, foreign correspondents’ interest in the escalation on the contact line and their need to do their professional work is understandable but they must abide by the following rules.
 
Respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, the norms and principles of international law, representatives of the foreign media who intend to engage in journalistic activities in the Armenian-occupied territories of Azerbaijan must first apply to the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan. Applications for accreditation can be sent in electronic form via the Foreign Ministry’s website.
 
To ensure objectivity, avoid biased approach and inform the international community accurately, the damage caused to the Azerbaijani civilians and civilian facilities along the line of contact as a result of the actions of Armenian armed forces must be covered.
 
The ministry also recommends to foreign media outlets be attentive to the false and provocative information of the Armenian side aimed at misleading the international community.

Recall, on the night of April 2 all frontier positions of Azerbaijan were exposed to heavy fire from large-caliber weapons, mortars, grenade launchers and guns. In addition, Azerbaijani settlements near the front line, densely populated by civilians, were shelled.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20% of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US, are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.