Baku, Azerbaijan, Mar. 10
By Elmira Tariverdiyeva – Trend:
Azerbaijan’s Permanent Mission to the OSCE stressed the need for continuing inclusive approach while observing media-related developments in all OSCE participating states in a comprehensive, objective and impartial manner in its statement at a meeting of Permanent Council on Mar. 9.
“OSCE institutions must act strictly in line with their mandate and tasking given by the participating states,” says the statement. “In this regard, we recall Brussels (2006) and Madrid (2007) Ministerial Council decisions that specifically call to ensure professionalism, accuracy and adherence to ethical standards among journalists. The importance of this aspect is even more acute in the context of reporting on conflict situations, as their sensitive nature requires highest level of professionalism and ethics of journalists.”
As for the Alexander Lapshin case, which was referred to by representative of Armenia, this is not an issue for the OSCE, said the Azerbaijani representative, adding that this criminal case was addressed between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Belarus on bilateral basis.
“Mr. Lapshin is a citizen of several states and they, as a third party in this case, follow legal developments. Armenia has no relevance to this legal case, except that Lapshin’s case once again indicated that Armenia fraudulently attracts foreign nationals to illegal visits to Azerbaijan’s occupied territories and then tries to turn them into a tool for its political propaganda,” says the statement.
“Taking this opportunity, we once again call on journalists and foreign citizens to refrain from illegal visits to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan without prior consent,” added the Azerbaijani Permanent Mission.
Alexander Lapshin is a citizen of several countries and has had a criminal conspiracy with Armenians living in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. He also illegally visited these territories.
Lapshin is accused of violating Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012.
On Jan. 17, Alexei Stuk, deputy prosecutor general of Belarus, issued a ruling on Lapshin’s extradition to Azerbaijan. Lapshin was brought to Azerbaijan on Feb. 7.
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 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.