Yerevan: Azerbaijan’s refusal to provide visas to Armenians is racistMay 21, 2019 - 14:08 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anna Naghdalyan has described Azerbaijan’s refusal to grant visas to Arsenal’s fans who may have Armenian roots as racism. Addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, May 21, Naghdalyan said should Azerbaijan provide all the necessary security guarantees to both Henrikh Mkhitaryan and his teammates, the Armenian Foreign Ministry will not mind the Armenian midfielder’s participation in the Europa League final in Baku. Mkhitaryan is the captain of Armenia’s national team, and Armenia, Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) are involved in long dispute. “We would welcome if Azerbaijan stuck to the principle it was talking about days earlier, i.e. sports are beyond politics,” Naghdalyan said. “Azerbaijan’s failure to ensure security guarantees and denying visas to purported Armenians is nothing short of racism.” The spokesperson added that such moves call into doubt the decisions to hold international events in Azerbaijan. “This match was an opportunity for Azerbaijan to show to what extent Baku was ready to work towards preparing peoples for peace,” Naghdalyan said. “However, we witnessed new manifestations of racism. This circumstance will certainly be raised to our international partners.” Top stories The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Thursday, November 9 to allocated AMD 120 million to arrange the gathering. Michael Roth believes sanctions must be put on the table after Baku‘s ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Yerevan City Council has elected Tigran Avniyan from the ruling Civil Contract as the mayor of the Armenian capital. The Armenian Parliament on Tuesday, October 3 voted to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Partner news | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Cyprus parliament honors Armenian genocide victims Acting House President Zacharias Koulias noted that April 24 marks the “black anniversary” of the Armenian genocide. Azerbaijan razes historic Armenian church to ground Azerbaijan has demolished the historic Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist (known as Kanach Zham). |