How rational is the "black list" of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan?

Baku / 21.06.17 / Turan: For several years, the "black list" of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has been operating, including almost everyone who visited Karabakh and the occupied territories. These people are not given visas to Azerbaijan and each time loudly declaring that those wishing to visit these places should receive Baku's consent.

What is meant by "consent" is difficult to say, since the Foreign Ministry does not issue special visas for trips to Karabakh.

But the trouble is that even if the Foreign Ministry gives such consent, then it "forgets" about it.

For such a statement, there are good reasons for the example of a well-known American analyst who has lived and worked in the Caucasus region for many years.

A couple of years ago he and his chief-colleague arrived in Baku and wrote to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the presidential administration asking them to give their consent to their trip to Karabakh for research purposes. They explained their appeal with the demand of official Baku.

But without waiting for an answer, they left. A week later the head of the press service called the American and said that the agreement was given and they can visit Karabakh and their names will not be included in the blacklist.

After visiting Karabakh, foreigners noted with satisfaction that their names were not on the "black list".

But two weeks ago the same American, who has been traveling to Baku for 25 years, applied for a visa to the Azerbaijani embassy in Tbilisi.

The questionnaire, as expected, indicated that he had visited Karabakh. According to the American, this recognition caused a shock among embassy workers. The American described how this happened by submitting his written appeal, and naively believing that now the machine of Midoma will include its computer system, which clearly confirms that, yes, this person was once allowed to visit Karabakh and his written appeal on this matter Attaching. The American has been asked: who and how gave him a consent, and how can he confirm this (!).

The American had to call names and dates. They told him to wait for another week, saying that they would check the truth whether he said. After two weeks in Tbilisi, the analyst decided to spit on the "black list" and returned to somebody and returned home.

This case shows that in Baku no one thinks that people will apply for permission to enter Karabakh, and that there must be also a "white list".

But apparently few people in the Foreign Ministry think on this topic; but the Ministry proudly keeps silence when Soso Pavliashvili gives concerts in Baku, and does not hesitate to go to Karabakh without asking permission from Mamedyarov. -02B-