Photo by Sebastian Willnow/AFP
Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reports:
Spanish opera singer Montserrat Caballe, who was declared persona non grata in Azerbaijan, this week has received Armenia’s highest honor from the president, the Armenian leader’s spokesman said on Sunday.President Serzh Sargsyan gave Caballe the order of honor for “defending Armenia’s state and national interests, for special achievements in establishing independence, democracy as well as for strengthening and developing friendship with the Republic of Armenia and for a significant contribution to peace building between nations,” a spokesman said.
“Armenia is an island of peace and love. You have a wonderful country and people with strong spirits. I will have unforgettable impressions when I leave Armenia and I am sure that my visit will be continued,” the singer said as she received the honor.
Baku declared Caballe persona non grata on Thursday, the next day after she visited Azerbaijan's separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh and met with the self-proclaimed republic’s head, Bako Sahakyan.
Azerbaijan said the trip was “illegal and harmed peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.” Baku sent a special note to Spain’s Foreign Ministry demanding explanations.
More than 30,000 people haved died in the conflict between the two former Soviet countries over Nagorno-Karabakh, a predominantly ethnic Armenian region, internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.