Azerbaijan against the EU
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan today issued an official statement condemning the European Union and announced that its relations with the EU are at risk.
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs accuses the European Union of not posting President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso's speech at Baku State University on 13-14 January 2011 in its entirety on the EU's official website.
Baku says the EU has particularly taken out and replaced parts of the speech referring to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Let us remind that the shorthand record of Barroso's text at Baku State University was posted on the official website of the President of Azerbaijan in which it was stated:
"The European Union surely supports the territorial integrity of partnering countries, including that of Azerbaijan. We also support the OSCE Minsk Group's efforts and the principles initially agreed upon."
The Azerbaijani "Trend" agency also posted the shorthand record of that part of the text on its website as well.
However, the European Union tends to differ. Press secretary of the President of the European Commission Michael Katnichnik told "ArmenPress" that he is not aware of the text of the speech posted on the website of the President of Azerbaijan and underlined that it is necessary to take into account what is posted on the website of the European Union.
Let us mention that there is no reference to territorial integrity in the shorthand record of Baruso's speech at Baku State University.
Speaker of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tigran Balayan told "A1+" that the Azerbaijani have clearly distorted Barroso's words.
"There is no guarantee that they didn't edit the video recording as well. In addition, the Azerbaijani's statements referring to Barroso were clearly denied on the EU website."
