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  • BAKU: Azeri authorities "blacklist" foreign companies working inKara

    Azeri authorities "blacklist" foreign companies working in Karabakh - paper

    Zerkalo, Baku
    30 Sep 04

    The Azerbaijani authorities have instituted a blacklist of foreign
    companies doing business in the self-declared Nagornyy Karabakh
    Republic, Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo has reported. However, this
    is a belated step, the report said. Zerkalo noted that it was not
    worth spoiling relations with large foreign companies and instead
    Azerbaijan could adopt a law regulating foreign financial assistance
    to Nagornyy Karabakh. The following is an excerpt from R. Mirqadirov
    report by Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo on 30 September headlined "Ice
    is cracking?" and subheaded "Blacklist of companies working on occupied
    territories compiled"; subheadings have been inserted editorially:

    Belated statement

    Azerbaijan has compiled a "blacklist" of foreign companies engaged in
    illegal activity on Armenian-occupied territories, Trend news agency
    has quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov as saying.

    He said these companies, agencies and different bodies will be banned
    from engaging in any activity on Azerbaijani territory. Also, appeals
    will be sent to the governments of the countries they represent. Azimov
    added that the Azerbaijani government will demand that international
    sanctions be applied against them as well.

    "Azerbaijan cannot turn a blind eye to the illegal tapping of natural
    resources on its occupied territories and Armenia's policy of illegal
    settlement," he said.

    Considering the statements by Azerbaijani officials on the need for
    palpable results in the Karabakh settlement and the restoration
    of the country's territorial integrity within one year, it seems
    that Baku has "woken up" from the winter hibernation. Unfortunately,
    rather late. And this is when a question arises: is it worth spoiling
    relations with serious foreign companies which in some cases represent
    influential countries?

    Of course, we are not talking about Araz Azimov now. After all, he
    has voiced the official position which, in fact, is quite right. But
    then another pretty straightforward and rhetorical question arises:
    why did we have to remain inactive for such a long time to develop
    a position on such a mundane and clear issue?

    Without mentioning other media outlets, Zerkalo alone has repeatedly
    raised this topical issue over the past several years. And every
    time we named the foreign companies and international organizations
    working on occupied territories, including outside Nagornyy
    Karabakh. Indifference to the fact that its natural resources are
    squandered by a country at war with Azerbaijan, though not quite
    officially, was beyond comprehension. Because first reports on
    the exploration of gold deposits outside Nagornyy Karabakh emerged
    almost 10 years ago. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan once even
    showed gold ingots from those deposits to TV cameras. Meanwhile,
    Baku remained "Olympic quiet" and tried to ignore media publications
    and Kocharyan's bravery.

    At the same time, these belated steps, or to be more exact declarative
    statements, can hardly be seen as complete. As mentioned, Azerbaijan's
    sovereignty over the occupied territories is violated not only by
    foreign companies but also international organizations, funds, states
    and even individual citizens of foreign countries.

    Law needed to regulate foreign financial assistance to Karabakh

    Let's start with the end. In any country a violation of its borders
    is a flagrant offence, which in Azerbaijan is even punishable. In
    other words, any citizen of a foreign country who has visited Nagornyy
    Karabakh without the Azerbaijani visa has violated our borders with
    everything that entails.

    As far as the activity of foreign companies on the occupied territories
    is concerned, everything is quite clear. There can be no foreign
    investment or entrepreneurial activity until a political settlement
    to the Karabakh problem is reached. To prevent such activity, it is
    necessary to engage all international legal instruments, including
    judicial ones. The point is that by signing a contract to develop
    a deposit on Azerbaijani territory with the government of Armenia
    or the authorities of the so-called "Nagornyy Karabakh Republic",
    a foreign company not only violates international legal norms but
    also inflicts enormous economic damage to us. And this must become
    an object of consideration in international judicial bodies and
    compensation must be sought for the damage caused.

    I am not saying we should "deny entry" to the occupied territories,
    including Nagornyy Karabakh, to all countries, international
    organizations, funds, including humanitarian and human rights, and
    foreign citizens. This, in fact, is not possible.

    However, it is high time we adopted a law regulating foreign activity
    on occupied territories. For instance, while it is impossible to ban
    the provision of humanitarian assistance to the Karabakh population,
    we can urge international organizations, including those representing
    specific countries, to abide by legislative parameters of such
    assistance. Then we will have a chance to exercise at least some
    control over financial and other flows to Karabakh.

    [Passage to end omitted: minor details]

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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