Nagorno Karabakh is Armenian land, claims Turkish journalist

[ 16 Nov 2009 15:34 ]
Yerevan – APA. Correspondent of the Aksam newspaper of Turkey Nagehan Alci visited Nagorno Karabakh, the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, APA reports.

Nagehan Alci, who visited Nagorno Karabakh through Armenia, claimed that these territories are Armenian lands. Giving interview to Armenia’s Public Television the journalist said:
“We, people living in Turkey, made a mistake. Karabakh is one hundred percent the Armenian territory and we have understood that you are persistent enough in not ceding these lands,” he said.

The journalist said he intended to see Nagorno Karabakh his own eyes and make a report about the life of “Karabakh people”.
“I offered the editor-in-chief to send me to Karabakh and received a positive reply. Turkey is also interested in the territorial dispute around Nagorno Karabakh. What I saw here dispelled my doubts about the past and future of Karabakh. Stepanakert made a great impression on us and we intend to come here again,” he said.

Commenting on Turkey-Armenia relations, Nagehan Alci said they want the borders to open.
“But Nagorno Karabakh problem is one of the major obstacles for the this process. Our government has stated that the borders will not be opened, unless Karabakh conflict is solved. Time will show,” he said.

Asked whether his visit to Nagorno Karabakh will cause dissatisfaction in Azerbaijan, Nagehan Alci said he supposes so.
“We try to be unbiased, characterize the region and write about the real situation. Maybe, we will be announced persona non grata, but I do not want to hurt anybody in Azerbaijan. This is my work, I am a journalist and my profession requires being everywhere,” he said.
Nagehan Alci said he will also visit Shusha and make a report there.

Spokesman for Foreign Ministry Elkhan Polukhov told APA that Azerbaijani embassy in Turkey is carrying out investigation concerning the visit of the Aksam correspondent to the occupied territories.