Negative Image of Armenians Being Formed in Azerbaijan with All Means Possible

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, ARMENPRESS:

With all means possible a negative image of Armenians is being formed in Azerbaijan, Varujan Geghamyan, Turkologist, said today at a news conference. He says this is stated in a European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) report. This is the 3rd such report, which provides information on the situation in Azerbaijan and states that in all the platforms Azerbaijan tends to form a negative image of Armenians.

Varujan Geghamyan said the report actually does not differ from the previous ones, it just has some strict emphases in certain parts. The report mentions that there 20-30 thousand Armenians in Azerbaijan, however the situation is so terrible there that the Armenians do not have any opportunity to speak, express themselves, and they are even afraid of saying that they are Armenians. The local Armenians are those, who conceal their nationality or live there as a result of mixed marriages. Many of them face pressure and, according to the report, it is quite dangerous.

The speaker mentioned that in the text-books for low-grade Azerbaijani students Armenians are presented as insidious enemies, conspirators, revenge seekers. However such approaches do not exist in Armenian text-books.

"Under the current peaceful conditions the international establishments speak about dialogue, tolerance, however, as we see, such things do not exist. At all the levels possible Azerbaijan endeavors to make Armenia be considered as an enemy," the Turkologist said. He said not only for the international community, but also for the Armenian nation it is a proof that Azerbaijan is not ready for the talks.

The report touched upon not only Armenians, but also other national minorities living in Azerbaijan.