Kazimirov: Azeri Media Distorted OSCE Minsk Group Statement

PanARMENIAN.Net - On December 11 APA and Trend Azeri news agencies distorted the OSCE Minsk Group's statement on the referendum in Nagorno Karabakh. At that there is no doubt it was not accidentally (for example over insufficient knowledge of English or French) but a cynic and purposeful pretence targeted at deceiving media, using the materials of these agencies, and their audience, OSCE MG Russian Co-chair in 1995-96, Ambassador Vladimir Kazimirov said in the statement addressed to PanARMENIAN.Net



"As once a participant of the OSCE Minsk process I closely watch the documentation and must tell you the following: the falsifiers did not satisfy with the fact that the OSCE MG hasn't recognized the referendum in Nagorno Karabakh. They tried to create an impression that the mediators do not recognize Nagorno Karabakh as a party to the conflict and negotiation process on its settlement. Here is an extract from the mediators' statement: 'Аny future legal status of Nagorno Karabakh should be determined without threat or use of force and only as the result of political negotiations between all parties in the framework of the Minsk process.' The APA interpreted it the following way: 'Nagorno Karabakh cannot be imposed a status by threats or weapons. The conflict should be resolved only within the OSCE MG framework with obligatory participation of both sides.' The point is not incoherent stylistics but semantic meaning. As you see the phrase was turned out as if referring to the referendum itself (whether it was held under threats or with the help of weapons). The forgery with the number of the sides is obvious (Kazimirov's note)



Trend news agency did not prove more conscientious. "Any status of Nagorno Karabakh should be determined without threats or appliance of force but only as a result of political talks between the two states within the Minsk process. The number is distorted; the term 'states' is used instead of 'parties'. Can two agencies coincide in distortion? Or is there any directive? We should give due to Day.az information webside, which presented the document correctly.



Zerkalo Baku-based newspaper appeared either as a victim or accomplice to the deceit (reporter Bayramova quotes ARA). This is the way the handweel of lie and deception of their own people functions. Isn't it clear that the authors of the falsifications cast a shadow on all Azeri media and call in question other publications? Both nations involved into the Karabakh conflict need true information on every point referring to it.



I would like to believe that both agencies and the newspaper will have the courage to correct the 'mistakes' and publish the proper text of the statement issue by the OSCE MG Co-chairs. This sentence is of course dictated by the naivete of belief in the truth, professional honesty and responsibility before their public. But there is no belief. Just on the contrary. I can bet it won't happen. Paradoxically such media 'save their face' with shamefully passing over in silence, Amb. Kazimirov's letter says.