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AZERBAIJAN MAKES RARE CONCESSION TO ALLOW OPERATION OF BREAKAWAY ENTITY'S AIRPORT
Global Insight
July 16, 2012
BY: Lilit Gevorgyan
The Minsk Group of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) announced in a statement on 13 July that Azerbaijan
had given its consent to allow civilian flights from the newly
reconstructed airport in Stepanakert, the capital of self-declared
Nagorno Karabakh republic. The Minsk Group has been mediating in peace
talks over the final status of the mainly ethnic Armenian region that
has been de facto independent since 1988. The region became gradually
isolated from Armenia since the declaration of independence and as
hostilities with Azerbaijan escalated. Currently, there are two land
routes connecting Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia, which acts as the
region's security guarantor and represents its interests in the peace
talks. The new Stepanakert airport has seen a complete overhaul in
recent years. The Nagorno Karabakh government stated in 2011 that it
was planning to launch civilian flights, but Azerbaijan threatened to
shoot down any civilian plane that travelled to, or originated from,
Stepanakert airport.
Significance:When Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan pledged to be
on board the first flight last year to Stepanakert, the Azerbaijani
government warned that it would shoot the plane down regardless
who was onboard. However, it appears that the rhetoric has since
de-escalated. Azerbaijan's consent to agree to civilian flights is a
rare constructive move against the backdrop of increasing threats of
a fresh war by the Azerbaijani government (see:Armenia - Azerbaijan -
Russia - Europe: 16 July 2012:). The new link will alleviate eight hour
car journey that is currently required to travel from the Armenian
capital Yerevan to Nagorno Karabakh. Overall, it is a positive move
by Azerbaijan.
Global Insight
July 16, 2012
BY: Lilit Gevorgyan
The Minsk Group of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) announced in a statement on 13 July that Azerbaijan
had given its consent to allow civilian flights from the newly
reconstructed airport in Stepanakert, the capital of self-declared
Nagorno Karabakh republic. The Minsk Group has been mediating in peace
talks over the final status of the mainly ethnic Armenian region that
has been de facto independent since 1988. The region became gradually
isolated from Armenia since the declaration of independence and as
hostilities with Azerbaijan escalated. Currently, there are two land
routes connecting Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia, which acts as the
region's security guarantor and represents its interests in the peace
talks. The new Stepanakert airport has seen a complete overhaul in
recent years. The Nagorno Karabakh government stated in 2011 that it
was planning to launch civilian flights, but Azerbaijan threatened to
shoot down any civilian plane that travelled to, or originated from,
Stepanakert airport.
Significance:When Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan pledged to be
on board the first flight last year to Stepanakert, the Azerbaijani
government warned that it would shoot the plane down regardless
who was onboard. However, it appears that the rhetoric has since
de-escalated. Azerbaijan's consent to agree to civilian flights is a
rare constructive move against the backdrop of increasing threats of
a fresh war by the Azerbaijani government (see:Armenia - Azerbaijan -
Russia - Europe: 16 July 2012:). The new link will alleviate eight hour
car journey that is currently required to travel from the Armenian
capital Yerevan to Nagorno Karabakh. Overall, it is a positive move
by Azerbaijan.