17 June 2008
Misrepresenting the issues in Nagorno-Karabakh
11 June 2008
Armenian Council's response to Alexandros Petersen's article in the Guardian
We were very disappointed to see Alexandros Petersen's misinformed and ill-judged article on Nagorno-Karabakh being published in the Guardian on 7th of June.
Despite his affiliations Mr Petersen shows surprising lack of understanding of that part of the world or what is even more worrying, shows unacceptable lack of impartiality for a scholar. The article gives rise to a number of questions, particularly whether Mr Petersen has ever been to Karabakh and what sources he has consulted before penning his article?
Mr Petersen's article is an example of scholars getting involved in political propaganda and misinformation; is it a coincidence that Mr Petersen was recently a guest of honour at the Azeri Embasy in London for a launch of a propaganda book paid for by the Azeri foreign ministry? His close involvement with the government of Azerbaijan raises serious doubts about his impartiality while writing on this subject.
Despite not being formally recognised, the government of Karabakh is going to great lengths to follow international norms in an effort to demonstrate the country's values and aspirations despite no shortage of bellicose rhetoric and threats from the Azerbaijan. Such one-sided and misinformed articles are not going to contribute to the climate of understanding and peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict.
We join the Rt Hon Baroness Cox and other individuals much better informed about the current state of affairs in Karabakh in stating that Mr Petersen's article has little to do with reality and perhaps more to do with a biased viewpoint.
Yours faithfully,
Edgar Danielyan FRSA FBCS
The Armenian Council
London WC1N 3XX
Baroness Cox responds to misinformed article by A. Petersen
Guardian Newspaper
Your article on 'the Black Hole' of Nagorno Karabakh by Alexandros Petersen (June 7) contains so many false allegations and untruths that it would be laughable if the implications were not so serious.
I was in Nagorno Karabakh last week and I can personally testify to the ridiculous nature of the claims that 'Karabakh is a black hole that attracts arms, drug and human trafficking, money laundering and organised crime. Chances are that heroin on London's streets, illegal weapons in the Paris banlieue, and the underage prostitutes in Berlin either came through a conflict zone such as Karabakh , or were trafficked by a network that uses the area to facilitate its operations.'
These allegations are outrageous. The Armenians in Karabakh had to defend their land against well-documented attempted ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan in a bitter war from 1991-1994, During that war, Islamist terrorists fought on the side of Azerbaijan against the Armenians of Karabakh, who are now rebuilding their shattered lives and land with laudable commitment to democratic principles (their elections have been declared free and fair by independent respected international observers).
My charitable organisation supports a Rehabilitation Centre for people with disabilities which has become recognised by many professional visitors as a Centre of Excellence, disseminating innovative good practice throughout the South Caucasus. Over the years, I have encouraged as many as a thousand people to visit this historic land; we have travelled widely throughout the small region and every visitor has been inspired by the graciousness, openness and warm hospitality of the people. All would join me in signing this letter of rebuttal of the outrageously absurd and misleading allegations in your article.
Yours faithfully,
The Baroness Cox
House of Lords
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