The close relations between New Mexico lawmakers and Azerbaijan remain disputed, writes the US Albuquerque Journal.

Art Mchafi, who was appointed Azerbaijan’s Honorary Consul in New Mexico by Ilham Aliyev in 2010, has defended Azerbaijan in front of lawyers and the mass media, claiming that “that country doesn’t deserve to be condemned.”

However, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has announced about holding events in the building of the Santa Fe Legislature in response to the advancement of Azerbaijan’s interests in the State of New Mexico. The event will include public briefings and students’ meetings with state legislators.

In an interview with Albuquerque Journal, Co-Chair of the ANCA Ken Gleria announced that such events are necessary to counterinfluence the pro-Azerbaijani lobbying in the legislature in New Mexico. “The days of our presentation will be held in New Mexico in a decisive period and are aimed at raising our leaders’ awareness about Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s growing threats against Armenia, mentioning that Armenia is a small Christian country in a troubled region,” Gleria said, reports Panorama.am.