British MP says Karabakh visit was “solely fact-finding”
Space TV, Baku
25 Oct 04
The recognition of [the republic of] Nagornyy Karabakh was not
discussed during a visit to Karabakh by a British parliamentary
delegation because the British government’s position on this issue
remains unchanged, said Gordon Marsden, leader of a delegation of
the British interparliamentary cooperation group, speaking about the
outcome of his visit to Xankandi [Stepanakert].
Mr Marsden said he regretted Azerbaijan’s negative reaction to the
delegation’s visit to Nagornyy Karabakh. He said that the British
government and the British embassy in Baku had put it clearly that this
was solely a fact-finding visit. If Azerbaijanis wanted to voice their
position, we would have been happy to listen to them, end of quote.
As for the fact that they went to Karabakh via Armenia, the British
MP said that Azerbaijan was allegedly unable to organize visits to
Nagornyy Karabakh via its territory.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reports that British MPs have never
appealed to Azerbaijan for assistance to visit Nagornyy Karabakh and
this is what caused Baku’s discontent.