Tofig Garayev: "Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan"

Azerbaijan has terminated its participation in the International Tourism Fair in Berlin early. According to the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Germany, "the Armenian side is abusing the peaceful tourist exhibition for the purpose of propaganda in favor of a policy contrary to international law". In particular, the Armenia and Caucasus Tourism Development Company, participating in the exhibition, has distributed materials promoting the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. A similar action against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan was undertaken once before in 2009, after which the ITB administration made efforts to prevent such provocations in the future, thus ensuring the successful participation of Azerbaijan in the Tourism Exchange for many years, until this year. The activities of the ‘Karabakh’ stand at the exhibition not only contradict international law, but also the commercial terms for the fair and exhibitions of the company Messe Berlin GmbH, as well as the conditions of participation in the International Tourism Fair. Recall that Russia and other European countries, particularly Germany, recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, considering Nagorno-Karabakh to be a part of Azerbaijan. Germany announced the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a priority within the framework of its presidency of the OSCE. In connection with this action, carried out at the show, it was a direct violation of international law. However, despite the recognition of the administration of the ITB of their obligations to eliminate such propaganda posters and informational materials, unfortunately effective actions to prevent provocations have not been reported. Therefore, Baku said that Azerbaijan is no longer able to continue its participation in the Tourism Exchange, where its territorial integrity and sovereignty is rudely ignored.

The head of Azerbaijan House in Berlin, Tofig Garayev, has commented on the situation in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza.

- Mr. Garayev, the Azerbaijani media is discussing the scandal with the ‘Karabakh’ stand and the protest which took place at the International Tourism Fair in Berlin. Tell us what really happened at the fair.

- This year, as in previous years, the Azerbaijani side conducted preliminary work to prevent possible provocations from the Armenian side, aimed at presenting the separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh as a sort of independent 'state' with a developing tourist infrastructure. Of course, this is not a serious proposition for European tourists, who are accustomed to comfort, considering that Nagorno-Karabakh doesn't even have any airport. But we take the attempts to put the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan into question very seriously.

As in previous years, before the opening of the exchange the Armenian delegation received a warning letter from the ITB management, in which the inadmissibility of attempts to speculate on the Karabakh issue was openly stated. However, these people made their way to the exhibition by a private company registered in Germany and began to spread provocative materials about Nagorno-Karabakh through its stand.

- What was the reaction of the Baku government on the spot?

- The Azerbaijani Embassy in Berlin and representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism immediately appealed to the administration of the exhibition and informed them of the violation of the regulations of the tourist exchange by the Armenian side. The ITB administration expressed its support for Azerbaijan's position, however, unfortunately, effective actions to move the ‘Karabakh’ stand have not been reported. It's hard to say why the administration was so passive in this matter. It will be established through formal and informal channels. But when faced with such negligence, the Azerbaijani delegation could not demonstrate indecision anymore, hoping that the organizers of the exhibition would do something. So it was decided to suspend the activities of the Azerbaijani stand in protest against the inefficiency of the execution of the ITB regulation by its own administration.

- There are also criticisms about the Azerbaijani delegation's step. Some argue that Azerbaijan should have stayed at the Tourism Exchange to the very end.

- But, as they say, so many men, so many minds. I want to recall that a similar precedent already happened in the history of the International Tourism Exchange in 2009. Then, materials promoting tourism in the Karabakh separatist entity were distributed at the exhibition, there was an attempt to present Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state. Then the tough position of Azerbaijan, whose delegation left the exhibition, played its role. The Armenian companies distributing provocative materials were added to the ITB 'black list' and there were no problems in connection with the Karabakh issue at the exhibition for seven years.

Perhaps it was done to test our response, our readiness to suffer like that. If we would allow it and did not react so harshly, then the separatists could have gained a foothold at the ITB.

It is necessary to demonstrate that the sovereignty of Azerbaijan in Karabakh is not something where we are ready to make compromises and to carry out parallel activities in the framework of an exhibition where Nagorno-Karabakh is represented as an independent state. Therefore, the suspension of the activities of the Azerbaijani stand this year is, above all, the most powerful form of protest against the ITB administration, which didn't respond promptly to the violation of its regulations, as well as a protest against Germany, which presides over the OSCE this year. 

- There is an opinion that after Azerbaijan suspended the activities of its stand, it lost the chance to fight back against the campaign in favor of the separatists at the exhibition.

- I cannot agree with this formulation. By terminating its participation, the Azerbaijani government has sent a strong signal to the organizers of the Tourist Exchange and it will continue to raise this issue in all the international organizations. The practical work to combat the separatist campaign has not stopped for a minute. Members of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Berlin held a loud demonstration, blocking the entrance to the 'Karabakh' stand, informational materials about the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict were distributed in the ITB press center. Events went on a scenario undesirable for the Armenian side. They tried to politicize the exhibition, in the sense that the occupied Azerbaijani regions have been presented as a stable tourist destination, but the Azerbaijani side made it clear to everyone at the ITB that glossy photos, which attract tourists, hide the zone of an armed conflict with constant clashes. Does anyone seriously expect that European tourists may want to spend their holidays in our occupied territories – in a war zone?