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Sherman Welcomes Impending Opening of Karabakh Airport
asbarez
Saturday, September 29th, 2012
Rep. Brad Sherman
Calls for End to Aliyev Threats against Armenia and Azerbaijan
WASHINGTON - House Foreign Affairs Committee senior member Brad Sherman
(D-CA) has welcomed news of the impending opening of the Stepanakert
Airport in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, and called on Azerbaijani
authorities `to guarantee it will take no violent actions against
flights into Artsakh,' reported the Armenian National Committee of
America.
In a September 28th statement, Rep. Sherman referenced a pattern of
threats by the Azerbaijani government to shoot down civilian aircraft
to and from the Karabakh airport and called for immediate U.S. action
including to `cut off all aid, arms transfers and to downgrade
relations with Azerbaijan's military.'
`We applaud Rep. Sherman's principled position in support of the
opening of the Artsakh airport, which will serve as an important
lifeline for the Nagorno Karabakh Republic to the world, as Azerbaijan
continues its 24-year blockade and ongoing threats and attacks against
Armenia and Karabakh,' said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
`We look forward to the opening of the airport and to the travel,
tourism and economic opportunities it will bring to the burgeoning
Artsakh Republic.'
The Stepanakert Airport was originally built in 1974 and primarily
served flights from Yerevan and Baku. The airport had remained idle
since 1992. In 2008, Karabakh authorities began renovation of the
airport, including the construction of a new main building, which
resembles an eagle with opened wings, and the widening of runways to
accommodate modern aircraft. Azerbaijani authorities have repeatedly
threatened, as recently as July of this year, to shoot down civilian
aircraft headed toward Karabakh. These threats along with other
statements of aggression and attacks against Armenia and Karabakh have
been documented by the ANCA.
http://www.anca.org/assets/pdf/misc/ Azeri_rhetoric_summary_0812.pdf
The full text of Rep. Sherman's statement welcoming the impending
opening of the Karabakh airport is provided below.
Statement by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) on the Impending Opening of the
Karabakh Airport
`The airport's opening is a testament to Nagorno-Karabakh's desire for
prosperity and peace. I congratulate the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on
the impressive renovation and imminent re-opening of the airport in
Stepanakert.
A direct air link with Yerevan will strengthen the Republic's efforts
to build a brighter future for its own people.
I know that the opening has been delayed several times, as Azeri
officials have threatened to shoot down civilian planes traveling to
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
Nagorno-Karabakh has persevered notwithstanding these threats. I have
called on the U.S. government to cut off all aid, arms transfers and
to downgrade relations with Azerbaijan's military. At a minimum, the
Azeri government must guarantee it will take no violent actions
against flights into Artsakh, cease other threats against Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh, and bring to justice the vicious murderer Ramil
Safarov before relations with the United States improve.'
asbarez
Saturday, September 29th, 2012
Rep. Brad Sherman
Calls for End to Aliyev Threats against Armenia and Azerbaijan
WASHINGTON - House Foreign Affairs Committee senior member Brad Sherman
(D-CA) has welcomed news of the impending opening of the Stepanakert
Airport in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, and called on Azerbaijani
authorities `to guarantee it will take no violent actions against
flights into Artsakh,' reported the Armenian National Committee of
America.
In a September 28th statement, Rep. Sherman referenced a pattern of
threats by the Azerbaijani government to shoot down civilian aircraft
to and from the Karabakh airport and called for immediate U.S. action
including to `cut off all aid, arms transfers and to downgrade
relations with Azerbaijan's military.'
`We applaud Rep. Sherman's principled position in support of the
opening of the Artsakh airport, which will serve as an important
lifeline for the Nagorno Karabakh Republic to the world, as Azerbaijan
continues its 24-year blockade and ongoing threats and attacks against
Armenia and Karabakh,' said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
`We look forward to the opening of the airport and to the travel,
tourism and economic opportunities it will bring to the burgeoning
Artsakh Republic.'
The Stepanakert Airport was originally built in 1974 and primarily
served flights from Yerevan and Baku. The airport had remained idle
since 1992. In 2008, Karabakh authorities began renovation of the
airport, including the construction of a new main building, which
resembles an eagle with opened wings, and the widening of runways to
accommodate modern aircraft. Azerbaijani authorities have repeatedly
threatened, as recently as July of this year, to shoot down civilian
aircraft headed toward Karabakh. These threats along with other
statements of aggression and attacks against Armenia and Karabakh have
been documented by the ANCA.
http://www.anca.org/assets/pdf/misc/ Azeri_rhetoric_summary_0812.pdf
The full text of Rep. Sherman's statement welcoming the impending
opening of the Karabakh airport is provided below.
Statement by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) on the Impending Opening of the
Karabakh Airport
`The airport's opening is a testament to Nagorno-Karabakh's desire for
prosperity and peace. I congratulate the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on
the impressive renovation and imminent re-opening of the airport in
Stepanakert.
A direct air link with Yerevan will strengthen the Republic's efforts
to build a brighter future for its own people.
I know that the opening has been delayed several times, as Azeri
officials have threatened to shoot down civilian planes traveling to
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
Nagorno-Karabakh has persevered notwithstanding these threats. I have
called on the U.S. government to cut off all aid, arms transfers and
to downgrade relations with Azerbaijan's military. At a minimum, the
Azeri government must guarantee it will take no violent actions
against flights into Artsakh, cease other threats against Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh, and bring to justice the vicious murderer Ramil
Safarov before relations with the United States improve.'