Spokesman for Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry: Turkey has sent a note to Azerbaijan, we are preparing the reply
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21 Oct 2009 15:44 ]
Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev. Lachin Sultanova – APA. “We are unaware that the flags of Turkey and Azerbaijan were lowered in front of the religious affairs office of Turkish embassy in Azerbaijan,” Baku Mayor’s Office told APA.
Department chief of Sabail district executive power Israfil Karimov said the decision to lower the flags had not been passed by them.
Religious affairs advisor of Turkish embassy in Azerbaijan Muzaffer Shahin told APA that several persons introducing themselves as workers came and lowered the flags in front of the office of religious affairs.
“We do not know who did it. The workers said it was an instruction,” he said.
Muzaffer Shahin said the area, where the flags were lowered, belonged to the office of the diplomatic mission.
Muzaffer Shahin said Turkey’s note had been presented to Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.
Spokesman for Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Elkhan Polukhov told APA that the Foreign Ministry had received a note. Polukhov added that the reply was being prepared.
According to Azerbaijani legislation, the flag of a foreign state can be hung out only on the residence of the diplomatic mission. An organization belonging to the diplomatic mission, but registered for example with the status of the cultural center, is not considered the territory of the diplomatic mission and the flag of the foreign state can not be hung out there. We do not know whether the territory of the religious affairs office was registered as a diplomatic mission or not.