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Our diplomatic office learned that Berlin-based “Friends of Artsakh (Karabakh)” society had applied for participation in the exhibition and was registered. Taking into account that participation of the above-mentioned society in the exhibition may aim to propagate the so-called Nagorno Karabakh Republic and to act against Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, the embassy held negotiations and correspondences with the leadership of ITB exhibition. The leadership of ITB made a written promise that measures will be taken to cancel the stand if the society violates the regulations. After the start of the exhibition, seeing the society’s activity against Azerbaijan and stand “Mountainous Karabakh” the embassy demanded ITB leadership to close the stand. Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations in Germany and Germany-Azerbaijan Forum also protested against the illegal activity and appealed to ITB leadership.
Though the society was prevented from spreading some propagating materials, the exhibition leadership did not completely fulfill the embassy’s demand, the stand was not canceled. Taking this into account, the embassy contacted relevant government agencies of Azerbaijan and as a result of it Azerbaijani delegation left the exhibition. The embassy said Azerbaijani ambassador to Germany Parviz Shahbazov issued a press release saying that ITB leadership did not take necessary measures to prevent illegal activity of “Friends of Artsakh (Karabakh)” society against Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity in the exhibition. The embassy also appealed to German Foreign Ministry and related government agencies about it.
