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Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Feb 14 2013
Comissioning Khojaly Airport is a violation of international norms -
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry
14 February 2013 - 3:10pm
The situation around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement remains
unchanged, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told
journalists on Thursday, Trend reports.
"Elections will be held in Armenia next week, so it is difficult to
say when the next talks on the conflict's settlement will be
conducted," he said.
Azerbaijan's position on the opening of the airport in Khojaly was
repeatedly announced and brought to the attention of international
institutions, Mammadyarov said responding to a question on Armenia's
illegal plans for the opening of Khojaly Airport in Azerbaijan's
occupied territories.
"We consider Armenia's actions illegal and contrary to all
international regulations, as international law prohibits flights over
the occupied territories. Even if these flights are humanitarian," he
said.
"On our side, there are no claims to the construction and operation of
flights. The problem rests in the fact that these territories are
occupied. If Armenia withdraws its troops from these territories, it
can operate these flights," Mammadyarov said.
Earlier, Armenian media reported on the commissioning of the airport
at Khojaly in the near future.
The commissioning of the airport is an open violation of the
Convention on International Civil Aviation [adopted on December 7,
1944 in Chicago], the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported earlier.
Azerbaijan will strengthen the legal level use of the application of
the Chicago convention.
Azerbaijan banned the use of the airspace over Nagorno-Karabakh
occupied by Armenia, as no one can guarantee a safe air corridor in
the area, Azerbaijani Civil Aviation Administration said earlier.
According to Azerbaijani Civil Aviation Administration, Armenia's
steps towards the operation of the airport are attempts to violate
international aviation law. This air space belongs to Azerbaijan, so
its use by Armenia is illegal.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European
Civil Aviation Conference (ICAC) also support the position of
Azerbaijan on this issue.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. - are
currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
Feb 14 2013
Comissioning Khojaly Airport is a violation of international norms -
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry
14 February 2013 - 3:10pm
The situation around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement remains
unchanged, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told
journalists on Thursday, Trend reports.
"Elections will be held in Armenia next week, so it is difficult to
say when the next talks on the conflict's settlement will be
conducted," he said.
Azerbaijan's position on the opening of the airport in Khojaly was
repeatedly announced and brought to the attention of international
institutions, Mammadyarov said responding to a question on Armenia's
illegal plans for the opening of Khojaly Airport in Azerbaijan's
occupied territories.
"We consider Armenia's actions illegal and contrary to all
international regulations, as international law prohibits flights over
the occupied territories. Even if these flights are humanitarian," he
said.
"On our side, there are no claims to the construction and operation of
flights. The problem rests in the fact that these territories are
occupied. If Armenia withdraws its troops from these territories, it
can operate these flights," Mammadyarov said.
Earlier, Armenian media reported on the commissioning of the airport
at Khojaly in the near future.
The commissioning of the airport is an open violation of the
Convention on International Civil Aviation [adopted on December 7,
1944 in Chicago], the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported earlier.
Azerbaijan will strengthen the legal level use of the application of
the Chicago convention.
Azerbaijan banned the use of the airspace over Nagorno-Karabakh
occupied by Armenia, as no one can guarantee a safe air corridor in
the area, Azerbaijani Civil Aviation Administration said earlier.
According to Azerbaijani Civil Aviation Administration, Armenia's
steps towards the operation of the airport are attempts to violate
international aviation law. This air space belongs to Azerbaijan, so
its use by Armenia is illegal.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European
Civil Aviation Conference (ICAC) also support the position of
Azerbaijan on this issue.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. - are
currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.