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RULING PARTY: BAKU WANTS MINSK GROUP TO PUT PRESSURE ON ARMENIA
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
April 2 2013
By Sara Rajabova
Baku wants the mediating OSCE Minsk Group to put pressure on Armenia
and take action to force Armenia to peace in order to achieve peace
in the region, the ruling Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party's (NAP) Deputy
Executive Secretary Mubariz Gurbanli has said.
"Unfortunately, the Minsk Group co-chairs, as intermediaries, allow
the postponement of this issue's resolution," Gurbanli told the
NAP website while commenting on the delayed peace process over the
long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a brutal war in the early 1990s that
concluded with the signing of a fragile cease-fire. Since the war,
Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's
territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions.
Mediators from Russia, France and the U.S. -- co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group -- have been brokering peace talks over the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict since the 1994 ceasefire, but their efforts
have not produced any result yet.
Stressing the importance of continuing the negotiations, Gurbanli
noted Azerbaijan's continuous involvement in the process.
According to him, despite many provocative steps taken by Armenia,
Azerbaijan patiently remains involved in the talks.
He also noted a need for a visit of the co-chairs to the region in
the context of the recent downturn in the negotiation process.
Khojaly airport, 'another trick of Armenia'
Speaking about the issue of reopening the Khojaly airport in
Nagorno-Karabakh, Gurbanli stated that he deems this as another trick
of Armenia.
"Armenia does not need the Khojaly airport. Opening flights between
Yerevan and Khojaly is of no significance either economically or from
a different perspective. If the flights are opened, there will be no
major outflow and inflow from Yerevan to Khankendi and vice versa,"
he said, adding that the statement on the opening of this flight is
just another Armenian provocation.
Armenia media frequently reports that the airport in Khojaly is to
be commissioned in the near future.
Recently, Chief of the General Department of Civil Aviation (GDCA)
of Armenia Artyom Movsisyan stated that this body will allow civil
aircraft to fly to the occupied territory of Azerbaijan.
According to Movsisyan, flights will be carried out on board 19-seat
Armenian planes. The duration of a flight will be 45 to 50 minutes. He
declined to disclose dates.
Earlier, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that commissioning
of the airport is an open violation of the Convention on International
Civil Aviation adopted on December 7, 1944 in Chicago.
Gurbanli believes Armenia is seeking to divert attention from other
problems and direct the efforts of both international and Azerbaijani
diplomats to the issue.
"Alongside, by putting the issue on the agenda, the Armenian side
is trying to further provoke Azerbaijan and benefit from steps to
be taken by Azerbaijan in case of opening the airport. Azerbaijan is
perfectly aware of all this and openly states its position," he added.
He emphasized that regarding this issue, there is a requirement of
the International Civil Aviation Organization, as well as the norms
of international law.
"While this is not adhered to, the opening of this flight will be
considered illegal. International organizations, the co-chairs and
certain states have criticized Armenia's attempts. At the same time,
the co-chairs should demonstrate a particular position. Armenia should
know that this provocation will turn against it," he added.
Last week, First Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan's Parliament, Ziyafat
Asgarov, also stated that by making such statements the Armenian
authorities try to distract people's attention from more important
issues.
He said the falsifications in the presidential elections in Armenia,
as well as poor socio-economic situation, have heightened tensions
in the country and therefore it draws the people's attention to the
Karabakh problem to distract them from the mentioned problem and to
prolong the conflict.
Besides, Azerbaijan's Civil Aviation Administration recently condemned
Armenia over the statement on the opening of flights from Yerevan to
Khankendi and vice versa, saying these actions are not in line with
international law.
Azerbaijan has banned the use of airspace of its Armenian-occupied
territory Nagorno-Karabakh, as no one can guarantee the safety of
the area.
The International Civil Aviation Organization and European Civil
Aviation Conference support Azerbaijan's position on the issue.
Document No.121 on airports of the ICAO cited the Khojaly airport as
property of Azerbaijan.
International flights from the Khojaly airport, constructed in 1978,
were prohibited after the occupation of territories by Armenia. The
Khojaly airport, which has been registered in international
organizations with the name UB13, is a facility with military purposes.
From: Baghdasarian
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
April 2 2013
By Sara Rajabova
Baku wants the mediating OSCE Minsk Group to put pressure on Armenia
and take action to force Armenia to peace in order to achieve peace
in the region, the ruling Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party's (NAP) Deputy
Executive Secretary Mubariz Gurbanli has said.
"Unfortunately, the Minsk Group co-chairs, as intermediaries, allow
the postponement of this issue's resolution," Gurbanli told the
NAP website while commenting on the delayed peace process over the
long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a brutal war in the early 1990s that
concluded with the signing of a fragile cease-fire. Since the war,
Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's
territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions.
Mediators from Russia, France and the U.S. -- co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group -- have been brokering peace talks over the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict since the 1994 ceasefire, but their efforts
have not produced any result yet.
Stressing the importance of continuing the negotiations, Gurbanli
noted Azerbaijan's continuous involvement in the process.
According to him, despite many provocative steps taken by Armenia,
Azerbaijan patiently remains involved in the talks.
He also noted a need for a visit of the co-chairs to the region in
the context of the recent downturn in the negotiation process.
Khojaly airport, 'another trick of Armenia'
Speaking about the issue of reopening the Khojaly airport in
Nagorno-Karabakh, Gurbanli stated that he deems this as another trick
of Armenia.
"Armenia does not need the Khojaly airport. Opening flights between
Yerevan and Khojaly is of no significance either economically or from
a different perspective. If the flights are opened, there will be no
major outflow and inflow from Yerevan to Khankendi and vice versa,"
he said, adding that the statement on the opening of this flight is
just another Armenian provocation.
Armenia media frequently reports that the airport in Khojaly is to
be commissioned in the near future.
Recently, Chief of the General Department of Civil Aviation (GDCA)
of Armenia Artyom Movsisyan stated that this body will allow civil
aircraft to fly to the occupied territory of Azerbaijan.
According to Movsisyan, flights will be carried out on board 19-seat
Armenian planes. The duration of a flight will be 45 to 50 minutes. He
declined to disclose dates.
Earlier, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that commissioning
of the airport is an open violation of the Convention on International
Civil Aviation adopted on December 7, 1944 in Chicago.
Gurbanli believes Armenia is seeking to divert attention from other
problems and direct the efforts of both international and Azerbaijani
diplomats to the issue.
"Alongside, by putting the issue on the agenda, the Armenian side
is trying to further provoke Azerbaijan and benefit from steps to
be taken by Azerbaijan in case of opening the airport. Azerbaijan is
perfectly aware of all this and openly states its position," he added.
He emphasized that regarding this issue, there is a requirement of
the International Civil Aviation Organization, as well as the norms
of international law.
"While this is not adhered to, the opening of this flight will be
considered illegal. International organizations, the co-chairs and
certain states have criticized Armenia's attempts. At the same time,
the co-chairs should demonstrate a particular position. Armenia should
know that this provocation will turn against it," he added.
Last week, First Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan's Parliament, Ziyafat
Asgarov, also stated that by making such statements the Armenian
authorities try to distract people's attention from more important
issues.
He said the falsifications in the presidential elections in Armenia,
as well as poor socio-economic situation, have heightened tensions
in the country and therefore it draws the people's attention to the
Karabakh problem to distract them from the mentioned problem and to
prolong the conflict.
Besides, Azerbaijan's Civil Aviation Administration recently condemned
Armenia over the statement on the opening of flights from Yerevan to
Khankendi and vice versa, saying these actions are not in line with
international law.
Azerbaijan has banned the use of airspace of its Armenian-occupied
territory Nagorno-Karabakh, as no one can guarantee the safety of
the area.
The International Civil Aviation Organization and European Civil
Aviation Conference support Azerbaijan's position on the issue.
Document No.121 on airports of the ICAO cited the Khojaly airport as
property of Azerbaijan.
International flights from the Khojaly airport, constructed in 1978,
were prohibited after the occupation of territories by Armenia. The
Khojaly airport, which has been registered in international
organizations with the name UB13, is a facility with military purposes.
From: Baghdasarian