Baku excludes Japanese journalist from its ‘black list’

By Azernews

By Gunay Hasanova

Baku has removed another foreigner from its list of undesirable persons following an official appeal.

A Japanese citizen, an employee of the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, Hitoshi Omae has been removed from the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s list of undesirable people, who illegally visited the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, the Ministry told Trend on November 23.

Hitoshi Omae has appealed to the Foreign Ministry with a request to exclude his name from the list. In his letter, the journalist mentioned that he was unaware that it is illegal to visit the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by Armenia without notifying the Azerbaijani side, expressed his regret and noted that his articles regarding the visit meet interests of no side.

Omae expressed his respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.

Moreover, Omae voiced intention to visit Azerbaijan in order to deliver to the Japanese society more accurate and objective information about Azerbaijan, as well as the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.

After considering the Japanese journalist’s appeal, his name was excluded from the list of undesirable people.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry and diplomatic missions pay special attention to the illegal activity in the occupied areas of Azerbaijan. The work is constantly carried out to prevent such illegal actions.

Unauthorized visits to Nagorno-Karabakh and other regions of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia are considered illegal, and any individuals paying such visits are included in the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's "black list".

Baku has repeatedly warned foreign officials and diplomats of unauthorized visits to its territories that are occupied by Armenia, calling them contradictory to international law.

The ministry reminds constantly all nationals of foreign countries wishing to travel to Nagorno-Karabakh and other occupied regions of Azerbaijan that due to the occupation by Armenian armed forces that these areas are temporarily out of the control of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan's internationally recognized Nagorno-Karabakh territory was turned into a battlefield and zone of aggravated tensions after Armenia sent its troops to occupy Azerbaijan's lands. As a result, 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory stands under military occupation. For the past two decades, and despite calls from the international community, Armenia has refused to withdraw its troops and retreat within its national borders.