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STEPANAKERT AIRPORT MAY RESUME OPERATION AFTER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN AZERBAIJAN: ANALYST
YEREVAN, February 4. / ARKA /. An Armenian political analyst said
Saturday that the airport in Nagorno-Karabakh capital Stepanakert
which has undergone a major repair, may resume operations only after
next presidential elections in Azerbaijan, slated for 2013 October.
Speaking to reporters Gevorg Melkonyan said the danger that the
authorities of Azerbaijan may use the resumption of the airport as
a pretext to aggravate dramatically the situation is quite large.
According to him, Azerbaijan is seeing what he called 'increasing
revolutionary processes', and the Aliyev clan may try to solve
political problems by capitalizing on "external exacerbations."
The renovated airport, equipped with modern technology and able
to handle 100 passengers an hour is fully ready to operate flights
between Stepanakert and Yerevan. According to Karabakh authorities,
later it will operate also international flights.
Azerbaijan has threatened to down Karabakh planes. Azerbaijan's
military rhetoric has not subsided despite warning by the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairmen.
In comments on Baku's threats to shoot Armenian passenger aircrafts
Nikolay Bordyuzha, the secretary general of the Russia-led Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) said January 29 in Yerevan that
Azerbaijan is a civilized state, adhering to international laws. He
expressed doubt that "in our time, leadership of a country can order
to destroy civilian aircrafts. "
But this statement provoked a sharp reaction from official Baku. A
spokesman for its defense ministry accused Bordyuzha of behaving
as a representative of the Armenians. He added "f Armenia wants
to normalize the situation and resolve the conflict peacefully, it
must demonstrate an independent and fair position, and not act under
anyone's dictate." -0-
YEREVAN, February 4. / ARKA /. An Armenian political analyst said
Saturday that the airport in Nagorno-Karabakh capital Stepanakert
which has undergone a major repair, may resume operations only after
next presidential elections in Azerbaijan, slated for 2013 October.
Speaking to reporters Gevorg Melkonyan said the danger that the
authorities of Azerbaijan may use the resumption of the airport as
a pretext to aggravate dramatically the situation is quite large.
According to him, Azerbaijan is seeing what he called 'increasing
revolutionary processes', and the Aliyev clan may try to solve
political problems by capitalizing on "external exacerbations."
The renovated airport, equipped with modern technology and able
to handle 100 passengers an hour is fully ready to operate flights
between Stepanakert and Yerevan. According to Karabakh authorities,
later it will operate also international flights.
Azerbaijan has threatened to down Karabakh planes. Azerbaijan's
military rhetoric has not subsided despite warning by the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairmen.
In comments on Baku's threats to shoot Armenian passenger aircrafts
Nikolay Bordyuzha, the secretary general of the Russia-led Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) said January 29 in Yerevan that
Azerbaijan is a civilized state, adhering to international laws. He
expressed doubt that "in our time, leadership of a country can order
to destroy civilian aircrafts. "
But this statement provoked a sharp reaction from official Baku. A
spokesman for its defense ministry accused Bordyuzha of behaving
as a representative of the Armenians. He added "f Armenia wants
to normalize the situation and resolve the conflict peacefully, it
must demonstrate an independent and fair position, and not act under
anyone's dictate." -0-