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IN THE SEARCH OF NONEXISTENT ARGUMENTS BAKU TRIES TO STIFLE THE BUDAPEST SCANDAL WITH AN ANTI-AVIATION WAVE
http://artsakhtert.com/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=831:i n-the-search-of-nonexistent-arguments-baku-tries-to-stifle-the-budapest-scandal-with-an-anti-aviation-wave&catid=3:all&Itemid=4
Monday, 29 October 2012 10:19
The issue of the possible reopening of the Stepanakert airport
has recently re-actualization. With the submission of Baku, which,
as we know, fiercely opposes the opening of the airport and even
threatened to shoot down civil aircrafts flying over the NKR territory,
the issue has again become a subject of discussion, including at
the international level. What are the reasons that the last-year
'anti-aviation' wave raised by Azerbaijan, which seemed to somewhat
subside, has acquired, so to say so, its second life?
This is, perhaps, partly explained by a recent air dispute between
Turkey and Syria related to the Turkish Air Force fighter jets'
interception of a Syrian civil plane flying from Moscow to Damascus,
which was forced to land in Ankara for allegedly transporting "uncivil
cargo". As a result, Damascus closed Syrian airspace for passenger
planes of Turkey. The example seemed to be contagious - just this
period, Ankara issued a threat to close the Turkish airspace for
Armenian aircrafts, which, according to experts, was done under the
pressure of Baku, which was concerned about the possible resumption
of the airport in the NKR capital town.
Still, we think that the main reason of reanimation of the issue of
the Stepanakert airport was the pardon and glorification of Safarov
in Azerbaijan, or more strictly, the negative consequences of this
step for the country. The shameful action of the Baku authorities,
which received considerable resonance in the world and was flatly
condemned, dealt a serious blow to the image of Azerbaijan, which was
accused by many international organizations and the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs of undermining the negotiations process on the peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. In this situation, the Baku
regime immediately rushed to find an argument that, as it thought,
would create "parity charges" and would balance the condemnation of
the Azerbaijani and Armenian parties by the international community.
In the view of official Baku, the upcoming exploitation of
the Stepanakert airport can serve such as an argument, which the
Azerbaijani diplomacy immediately added to its armory. A representative
of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called the flights in and out of
Stepanakert illegal and said that the OSCE Minsk Group states "must
prevent such provocative actions". As usual, Baku involved Ankara in
its "anti-aviation" campaign. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
noted that the opening of the airport in Stepanakert would negatively
impact the negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "We
do not believe that this step will give a positive result, and the
issue should be resolved in the framework of international law",
said the Foreign Minister of Turkey. We'd also like to add that,
according to the European Union Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Philippe Lefort, the opening of the airport in Stepanakert
is the focus of the EU attention.
The situation stubbornly created by Azerbaijan can be confidently
considered a theater of absurd. It is not only because Safarov's
brutal murder of the sleeping Armenian officer cannot be put on a
par with the launch of the airport. It is evident that the opening
of the airport does not pose any threat to either Azerbaijan or the
negotiation process. The operation of this civilian structure will be
one of the important conditions for sustained development of the NKR,
the social and economic infrastructure of which was destroyed by the
armed aggression of Azerbaijan. In addition, it will provide the right
of the Republic's population to free movement, which, by the way, in
accordance with international documents, can be enjoyed by all the
people, regardless of their citizenship - that of a recognized or
unrecognized state. Besides, what are the references of Azerbaijan
and Turkey to international law, while a document on direct flights
between the Turkish Northern Cyprus and Baku is prepared to be signed,
and several airlines have flights from North Cyprus to many countries?
And Northern Cyprus is not recognized either by the international
community or even by Azerbaijan itself.
Now let's speak of the purely negotiation process and the possible
negative impact that the restart of the Stepanakert airport can have
on it, which the Azerbaijani-Turkish tandem keeps stating. It is
obvious to many that the basic obstacle to the peaceful settlement
of the Karabakh conflict was and is just Azerbaijan. Do any of the
international mediators really think that if we remove the issue of
opening the airport from the agenda, the agreement on the Karabakh
conflict will become possible? Surely, not. Baku has already proved
its inability to negotiate and to fulfill its commitments assumed
within the negotiation process. Moreover, it is not even interested in
the stability in the region, which is called for by the international
mediators, and thus it permanently aggravates the tension on the Line
of Contact between the conflicting parties. Because as the price for
stability, it requires that the international players, involved in
the regional processes, resolve the Karabakh issue purely in the
interests of Azerbaijan. And the regular attack of 'aerophobia'
also fits into this scenario.
Leonid MARTIROSSIAN
Editor-in-Chief of Azat Artsah newspaper
From: A. Papazian
http://artsakhtert.com/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=831:i n-the-search-of-nonexistent-arguments-baku-tries-to-stifle-the-budapest-scandal-with-an-anti-aviation-wave&catid=3:all&Itemid=4
Monday, 29 October 2012 10:19
The issue of the possible reopening of the Stepanakert airport
has recently re-actualization. With the submission of Baku, which,
as we know, fiercely opposes the opening of the airport and even
threatened to shoot down civil aircrafts flying over the NKR territory,
the issue has again become a subject of discussion, including at
the international level. What are the reasons that the last-year
'anti-aviation' wave raised by Azerbaijan, which seemed to somewhat
subside, has acquired, so to say so, its second life?
This is, perhaps, partly explained by a recent air dispute between
Turkey and Syria related to the Turkish Air Force fighter jets'
interception of a Syrian civil plane flying from Moscow to Damascus,
which was forced to land in Ankara for allegedly transporting "uncivil
cargo". As a result, Damascus closed Syrian airspace for passenger
planes of Turkey. The example seemed to be contagious - just this
period, Ankara issued a threat to close the Turkish airspace for
Armenian aircrafts, which, according to experts, was done under the
pressure of Baku, which was concerned about the possible resumption
of the airport in the NKR capital town.
Still, we think that the main reason of reanimation of the issue of
the Stepanakert airport was the pardon and glorification of Safarov
in Azerbaijan, or more strictly, the negative consequences of this
step for the country. The shameful action of the Baku authorities,
which received considerable resonance in the world and was flatly
condemned, dealt a serious blow to the image of Azerbaijan, which was
accused by many international organizations and the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs of undermining the negotiations process on the peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. In this situation, the Baku
regime immediately rushed to find an argument that, as it thought,
would create "parity charges" and would balance the condemnation of
the Azerbaijani and Armenian parties by the international community.
In the view of official Baku, the upcoming exploitation of
the Stepanakert airport can serve such as an argument, which the
Azerbaijani diplomacy immediately added to its armory. A representative
of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called the flights in and out of
Stepanakert illegal and said that the OSCE Minsk Group states "must
prevent such provocative actions". As usual, Baku involved Ankara in
its "anti-aviation" campaign. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
noted that the opening of the airport in Stepanakert would negatively
impact the negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "We
do not believe that this step will give a positive result, and the
issue should be resolved in the framework of international law",
said the Foreign Minister of Turkey. We'd also like to add that,
according to the European Union Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Philippe Lefort, the opening of the airport in Stepanakert
is the focus of the EU attention.
The situation stubbornly created by Azerbaijan can be confidently
considered a theater of absurd. It is not only because Safarov's
brutal murder of the sleeping Armenian officer cannot be put on a
par with the launch of the airport. It is evident that the opening
of the airport does not pose any threat to either Azerbaijan or the
negotiation process. The operation of this civilian structure will be
one of the important conditions for sustained development of the NKR,
the social and economic infrastructure of which was destroyed by the
armed aggression of Azerbaijan. In addition, it will provide the right
of the Republic's population to free movement, which, by the way, in
accordance with international documents, can be enjoyed by all the
people, regardless of their citizenship - that of a recognized or
unrecognized state. Besides, what are the references of Azerbaijan
and Turkey to international law, while a document on direct flights
between the Turkish Northern Cyprus and Baku is prepared to be signed,
and several airlines have flights from North Cyprus to many countries?
And Northern Cyprus is not recognized either by the international
community or even by Azerbaijan itself.
Now let's speak of the purely negotiation process and the possible
negative impact that the restart of the Stepanakert airport can have
on it, which the Azerbaijani-Turkish tandem keeps stating. It is
obvious to many that the basic obstacle to the peaceful settlement
of the Karabakh conflict was and is just Azerbaijan. Do any of the
international mediators really think that if we remove the issue of
opening the airport from the agenda, the agreement on the Karabakh
conflict will become possible? Surely, not. Baku has already proved
its inability to negotiate and to fulfill its commitments assumed
within the negotiation process. Moreover, it is not even interested in
the stability in the region, which is called for by the international
mediators, and thus it permanently aggravates the tension on the Line
of Contact between the conflicting parties. Because as the price for
stability, it requires that the international players, involved in
the regional processes, resolve the Karabakh issue purely in the
interests of Azerbaijan. And the regular attack of 'aerophobia'
also fits into this scenario.
Leonid MARTIROSSIAN
Editor-in-Chief of Azat Artsah newspaper
From: A. Papazian