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LETTER ABOUT ARMENIA'S PLAN TO RE-OPEN KHOJALY AIRPORT SENT TO EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT
6 February 2013, 15:34 (GMT+04:00)
Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.6 / Trend /
The European Azerbaijan Society's Brussels representation has sent a
letter about Armenia's plan to re-open Khojaly airport, to President
of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, and the chairs of the
European Peoples' Party (EPP), the Progressive Alliance of Socialists
and Democrats (S&D), the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
(ALDE), the Greens-European Free Alliance (Greens-EFA) and the European
Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) in the European Parliament.
In the letter The European Azerbaijan Society strongly condemn the
steps being taken to commission Khojaly Airport in Nagorno-Karabakh,
an Azerbaijani region occupied by Armenian armed forces since 1990.
"The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, tasked with achieving a negotiated
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, had previously issued
a statement in which they expressed their concern that the planned
opening of the airport could lead to further increased tension. H.E
Richard Morningstar, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, subsequently
commented: "The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs said that the parties need
to abstain from steps that may affect the peace process. The opening
of the airport in Khojaly may create tensions in the peace talks,"
the letter says.
According to the letter, Khojaly Airport was closed on 25
February 1992, after being occupied by Armenian forces during the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The airport was rebuilt during 2010-11,
but its opening has already been delayed for over a year. This
action, supported by Armenia and the self proclaimed 'Republic of
Nagorno-Karabakh', harms a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, and violates international law and four UN Security Council
Resolutions.
"We appreciate that the European Parliament has given increased
attention to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict over the past months,
but we consider this action by Armenian authorities to be contrary
to ongoing EU efforts to achieve a negotiated peace. It is also
inconsistent with the views expressed by the European Parliament in
the report on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the
EU and Azerbaijan adopted in 2012," the letter says.
The appeal ends by asking for a public denouncement of the airport
proposal as it is a further infringement of Azerbaijani territorial
sovereignty, its airspace, and a most unhelpful development at this
crucial time as both sides seek, via the Minsk Group, to end the
stalemate in negotiations.
A copy of the appeal has also been presented to Catherine Ashton,
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy.
The Brussels representation of The European Azerbaijan Society has
also addressed letters to Jagland ThorbjØrn, Secretary General of the
Council of Europe and Jean Claude Mignon, President of the Parliament
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), about Armenia's exploitation
of Khojaly airport.
From: Baghdasarian
6 February 2013, 15:34 (GMT+04:00)
Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.6 / Trend /
The European Azerbaijan Society's Brussels representation has sent a
letter about Armenia's plan to re-open Khojaly airport, to President
of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, and the chairs of the
European Peoples' Party (EPP), the Progressive Alliance of Socialists
and Democrats (S&D), the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
(ALDE), the Greens-European Free Alliance (Greens-EFA) and the European
Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) in the European Parliament.
In the letter The European Azerbaijan Society strongly condemn the
steps being taken to commission Khojaly Airport in Nagorno-Karabakh,
an Azerbaijani region occupied by Armenian armed forces since 1990.
"The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, tasked with achieving a negotiated
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, had previously issued
a statement in which they expressed their concern that the planned
opening of the airport could lead to further increased tension. H.E
Richard Morningstar, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, subsequently
commented: "The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs said that the parties need
to abstain from steps that may affect the peace process. The opening
of the airport in Khojaly may create tensions in the peace talks,"
the letter says.
According to the letter, Khojaly Airport was closed on 25
February 1992, after being occupied by Armenian forces during the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The airport was rebuilt during 2010-11,
but its opening has already been delayed for over a year. This
action, supported by Armenia and the self proclaimed 'Republic of
Nagorno-Karabakh', harms a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, and violates international law and four UN Security Council
Resolutions.
"We appreciate that the European Parliament has given increased
attention to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict over the past months,
but we consider this action by Armenian authorities to be contrary
to ongoing EU efforts to achieve a negotiated peace. It is also
inconsistent with the views expressed by the European Parliament in
the report on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the
EU and Azerbaijan adopted in 2012," the letter says.
The appeal ends by asking for a public denouncement of the airport
proposal as it is a further infringement of Azerbaijani territorial
sovereignty, its airspace, and a most unhelpful development at this
crucial time as both sides seek, via the Minsk Group, to end the
stalemate in negotiations.
A copy of the appeal has also been presented to Catherine Ashton,
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy.
The Brussels representation of The European Azerbaijan Society has
also addressed letters to Jagland ThorbjØrn, Secretary General of the
Council of Europe and Jean Claude Mignon, President of the Parliament
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), about Armenia's exploitation
of Khojaly airport.
From: Baghdasarian