LONDON–In an announcement issued Tuesday and dispatched to the British House of Lords–the House of Commons and the press–the Armenian National Committee of London expressed its disappointment to the British hospitality shown toward visiting Azeri president Haydar Aliyev and urged political circles not to tie the Karabakh question with Azeri oil interests.
Aliyev–in London for a three-day official visit–was joined Tuesday by British Prime Minister Tony Blair–in signing three new oil deals which would increase the West’s presence in Azerbaijan.
In its announcement–the ANC of London pointed to the long history of abuse and persecution orchestrated by Aliyev during Soviet and post-Soviet rule–especially against his own people and the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The ANC of London asked: How proper is it for Great Britain to entrust its trade and economic future to such an individual such as Aliyev?
In conclusion the ANC of London pointed out that while Britain will not resign from its oil interests–it should however–be urged not to tie the Karabakh question with the oil deals and not to hurt Armenia in the process.
