Tokyo, 17 April, /AJMEDIA/
Dear Mr. Mohammed Jalood,
I am writing to express my deep concern over the recent incident of burning the Azerbaijani flag at the opening ceremony of the Weightlifting European Championship in Erevan, Armenia. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Armenian nationals have desecrated the national symbol of Azerbaijan, and this behavior is not acceptable in any form.
During the 30-year occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan by Armenia, Azerbaijanis have witnessed numerous instances of Armenian aggression and vandalism towards Azerbaijani cultural heritage and national symbols.
Furthermore, we are deeply concerned about the safety of our sportsmen in Armenia, where the rule of law is often compromised, and anti-Azerbaijani sentiment is prevalent. The safety and security of our athletes should be of utmost priority, and we urge you to take necessary precautions to ensure that they are protected from harm during sporting events in Armenia.
We believe that the International Weightlifting Federation has a crucial role to play in ensuring that sporting events are conducted in a safe and respectful environment, free from political influence or discrimination. We urge you to take a strong stance against any such incidents and to work towards fostering a culture of mutual respect and understanding among athletes and nations.
Such acts of aggression are being used as a tool to prevent our sportsmen from participating in international competitions, and this is completely unacceptable.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate our commitment to promoting fair play, mutual respect, and non-discrimination in sports. We believe that sports can be a powerful tool for bringing people together and fostering peace and understanding. We hope that you will join us in this endeavor and take all necessary steps to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
Yours Sincerely,
President of Azerbaijan-Japan Friendship Association,
K. Käläntär K.Käläntär
April 16, 2023
