23:08, 27 October 2004

Foreign Office urges British deputies not to visit Karabakh

The visit of Baroness Caroline Cox and other representatives of the UK parliament to Nagorny Karabakh through the territory of Armenia is their private initiative, the Caucasian Knot correspondent was told in the British Embassy to Azerbaijan. "Earlier the British Foreign Office made a statement concerning visits of British parliamentarians to Narogny Karabakh urging them not to pay such visits," embassy officials said. "Great Britain treats Azerbaijan's territorial integrity with respect, and such trips don't correspond with the interests of Great Britain therefore the government recommends not to pay such visits," they added.

Five members of the British group for parliamentary cooperation, headed by British MP Gordon Marsden visited Nagorny Karabakh recently. Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords Baroness Caroline Cox was a member of the delegation as well. The British parliamentarians' visit was taken in Azerbaijan negatively.

Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot