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AZERBAIJAN THREATENS CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT IF NAGORNO-KARABAKH AIRPORT IS REOPENED
BYLINE: Matt Clements
Global Insight
March 16, 2011
Azerbaijan yesterday (15 March) threatened to shoot down civilian
planes flying to the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh if
an airport is reopened there as planned. Nagorno-Karabakh is a
disputed region located within Azerbaijan's borders, but occupied by
ethnic Armenian separatist authorities (supported by the Armenian
administration) following the separatist conflict that was ended
by a ceasefire in 1994. Azerbaijan considers the region to be an
occupied part of its territory, and its State Aviation Authority
(SAA) informed the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
that the region's airspace was closed and any flights into it would be
unauthorised. In outlining the situation to local media, the Director
of Azerbaijan's SAA Arif Mammadov stated that "according to the law
on aviation, it is possible to physically destroy aircraft that are
heading there". The SAA also asked the ICAO to inform Armenia of the
situation in order to avoid any incidents.
The threat comes as the airport at Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh's
administrative capital, is being rebuilt, having been closed since the
outbreak of conflict in the region in the early 1990s. The separatist
authorities have said that they are aiming to restart commercial
flights to the Armenian capital Yerevan in May, and warned against
any Azeri attempt to disrupt these flights. Azerbaijan currently
has a limited number of surface-to-air missile systems capable
of reaching airspace over Nagorno-Karabakh, although these could
potentially pose a threat to any civilian flights entering or leaving
the region via Armenia. Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan
remain high, as Azerbaijan continues to state its willingness to
re-take Nagorno-Karabakh by force and increases its defence spending
massively. There have also been several serious clashes along the
Nagorno-Karabakh boundary in recent months. Talks between the leaders
of both countries have continued, most recently on 5 March, although
progress has been limited (seeArmenia - Azerbaijan: 15 March 2011:).
Significance:Azerbaijan has made a number of threats regarding
Nagorno-Karabakh over recent years, many of which remain in the realm
of rhetoric and are designed to increase pressure on the separatists
and Armenia rather than illustrating an actual policy. As such,
the statements regarding civilian flights over Nagorno-Karabakh are
unlikely to be translated into action, at least over the short term
and not least because of its limited capability to undertake such
action. Nevertheless, should any efforts be made to intercept or shoot
down any civilian flights over the region, this would represent a
serious intensification of the situation, and would pose the risk of
retaliation and potential wider escalation into a conflict situation.
From: A. Papazian
BYLINE: Matt Clements
Global Insight
March 16, 2011
Azerbaijan yesterday (15 March) threatened to shoot down civilian
planes flying to the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh if
an airport is reopened there as planned. Nagorno-Karabakh is a
disputed region located within Azerbaijan's borders, but occupied by
ethnic Armenian separatist authorities (supported by the Armenian
administration) following the separatist conflict that was ended
by a ceasefire in 1994. Azerbaijan considers the region to be an
occupied part of its territory, and its State Aviation Authority
(SAA) informed the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
that the region's airspace was closed and any flights into it would be
unauthorised. In outlining the situation to local media, the Director
of Azerbaijan's SAA Arif Mammadov stated that "according to the law
on aviation, it is possible to physically destroy aircraft that are
heading there". The SAA also asked the ICAO to inform Armenia of the
situation in order to avoid any incidents.
The threat comes as the airport at Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh's
administrative capital, is being rebuilt, having been closed since the
outbreak of conflict in the region in the early 1990s. The separatist
authorities have said that they are aiming to restart commercial
flights to the Armenian capital Yerevan in May, and warned against
any Azeri attempt to disrupt these flights. Azerbaijan currently
has a limited number of surface-to-air missile systems capable
of reaching airspace over Nagorno-Karabakh, although these could
potentially pose a threat to any civilian flights entering or leaving
the region via Armenia. Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan
remain high, as Azerbaijan continues to state its willingness to
re-take Nagorno-Karabakh by force and increases its defence spending
massively. There have also been several serious clashes along the
Nagorno-Karabakh boundary in recent months. Talks between the leaders
of both countries have continued, most recently on 5 March, although
progress has been limited (seeArmenia - Azerbaijan: 15 March 2011:).
Significance:Azerbaijan has made a number of threats regarding
Nagorno-Karabakh over recent years, many of which remain in the realm
of rhetoric and are designed to increase pressure on the separatists
and Armenia rather than illustrating an actual policy. As such,
the statements regarding civilian flights over Nagorno-Karabakh are
unlikely to be translated into action, at least over the short term
and not least because of its limited capability to undertake such
action. Nevertheless, should any efforts be made to intercept or shoot
down any civilian flights over the region, this would represent a
serious intensification of the situation, and would pose the risk of
retaliation and potential wider escalation into a conflict situation.
From: A. Papazian