French television channel suspends rerun of anti-Azerbaijani film

The German-French television channel ARTE TV's management acknowledges the fact of non-recognition of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic by the international community, Azerbaijani Ambassador to France Elchin Amirbayov said.

The channel is familiar with the position of their governments on this issue and is sensitive to the issue of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, ARTE TV President Jerome Clement's letter addressed to the Azerbaijani Embassy in France says.

On July 14, ARTE TV aired and posted on its website the film "Haut Karabagh: Gomchassar" by Jean-Marie Barre, which distorts facts about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The film, which tells of beautiful mountains in Nagorno-Karabakh, reflects the political aspects, many of which are distorted. Events in Nagorno-Karabakh are shown one-sided, from Armenia's position and the facts were presented in a distorted form.

The purpose of a series of documentaries of ARTE "Haut Karabagh: Gomchassar" (On top of the world) is to raise awareness about traditions, nature and mythology, and it does not aim to reflect the geopolitical situation in these mountainous regions, the letter says.

Earlier, the Azerbaijani Embassy in France sent a letter of protest to ARTE TV President Jerome Clement.

Following the embassy' reaction the channel suspended rerun of the film, which was previously scheduled for July 21.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied territories.


/Trend/