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MEPS CONCERNED WITH AIRPORT RE-OPENING IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH
New Europe
Feb 17 2013
The re-opening of the Khojaly airport in Nagorno-Karabakh "would
seriously harm the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, MEP Inese Vaidere from Latvia said recently in an interview.
"Firstly, the Armenian initiative to open the Khojaly airport can
be seen as a claim of a change in the status of Nagorno-Karabakh
that is a clear disagreement with the Madrid Principles. Secondly,
the opening of the air traffic between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia
could be seen as a violation of the Azerbaijani airspace and thus,
might cause a counter reaction. Therefore, the opening of the Khojaly
airport should be considered a provocation and obstacle to conflict's
resolution that endangers the mutual confidence building. Instead,
both sides should continue to comply with current practice for flights
over their territory," Vaidere said.
The MEP noted that the symbolism associated with the Khojaly tragedy
in 1992 in addition to the opening of the airport, could potentially
lead to further increased tensions in the whole region. "The plan
of opening the air traffic between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia has
already caused a knock-on effect from the Azerbaijani side, which
has announced its readiness to destroy aircrafts that are deemed to
enter their airspace. Any provocative action from either of the sides
that has a potential to make the situation more precarious has to be
internationally condemned. Furthermore, the re-opening of the Khojaly
airport by Armenian authorities could be perceived as disrespecting
both, the EU and the Minsk Group's effort in the whole peace process,"
Vaidere said.
Subscribe to the NE newsletter .. .
February 18, 2013, 20:51:13
MEPs concerned with airport re-opening in Nagorno-Karabakh Article |
February 17, 2013 - 9:50pm
The re-opening of the Khojaly airport in Nagorno-Karabakh "would
seriously harm the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, MEP Inese Vaidere from Latvia said recently in an interview.
"Firstly, the Armenian initiative to open the Khojaly airport can
be seen as a claim of a change in the status of Nagorno-Karabakh
that is a clear disagreement with the Madrid Principles. Secondly,
the opening of the air traffic between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia
could be seen as a violation of the Azerbaijani airspace and thus,
might cause a counter reaction. Therefore, the opening of the Khojaly
airport should be considered a provocation and obstacle to conflict's
resolution that endangers the mutual confidence building. Instead,
both sides should continue to comply with current practice for flights
over their territory," Vaidere said.
The MEP noted that the symbolism associated with the Khojaly tragedy
in 1992 in addition to the opening of the airport, could potentially
lead to further increased tensions in the whole region. "The plan
of opening the air traffic between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia has
already caused a knock-on effect from the Azerbaijani side, which
has announced its readiness to destroy aircrafts that are deemed to
enter their airspace. Any provocative action from either of the sides
that has a potential to make the situation more precarious has to be
internationally condemned. Furthermore, the re-opening of the Khojaly
airport by Armenian authorities could be perceived as disrespecting
both, the EU and the Minsk Group's effort in the whole peace process,"
Vaidere said.
The EU's involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution has
been a relatively passive so far, the MEP said. "The EU can certainly
do more to help resolve conflict in the region, in particular through
the Action Plans with each of the countries and also by means of the
office of EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus.
Yet another way for the EU to get more engaged in the conflict
resolution would be to replace France in the OSCE Minsk Group. Not
only would it counterbalance the key regional players Russia and the
USA but would also improve the mediation approach. It is necessary to
reach a breakthrough in the 20 years of standstill in the conflict
resolution in order to establish a lasting peace so that thousands
of IDPs are able to return to Nagorno Karabakh," Vaidere said.
Meanwhile, MEP Boris Zala from Slovakia said that there is a clear
concern in Brussels that re-opening of the airport can potentially
unfreeze the conflict. "I still hope it will not come to that. My
instinct tells me that the situation will calm down after the Armenian
presidential elections. Either way, the issue certainly impedes the
conflict resolution process, and complicates the work of the Minsk
Group and the EU," Zala said in an interview.
The Chicago Convention, through its Articles 1 and 5 namely, is
clear about a state's right to manage its own airspace and exercise
sovereignty over it. Asked how the Khojaly Airport would operate if
opened, Zala said, "There is no other way for the airport to operate
but in accordance with international and standard flight practices
- in other words, only with the authorisation of the Azerbaijani
authorities. Any other mode of operation would pose risks for the
planes and their passengers - and violate international law.
Asked what the actions the European Parliament may undertake are to
prevent the opening of Khojaly airport, Zala said that at the moment,
individual MEPs are voicing concerns. "If the situation grows more
serious, I expect the EP to adopt a resolution, mounting pressure
on both sides to avert escalation of the conflict, and on the EEAS,
the Commission, and the Council to get more involved. And let's not
forget that the EU is not without political and economic leverage over
Armenia - after all, we are entering the final stages of negotiations
on a new trade agreement. So, even if not directly involved in conflict
mediation, the EU is not powerless. And, for that matter, neither
is the European Parliament, which will need to give its consent to
closer political and trade association with Armenia," Zala said.
http://www.neurope.eu/article/meps-concerned-airport-re-opening-nagorno-karabakh
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
New Europe
Feb 17 2013
The re-opening of the Khojaly airport in Nagorno-Karabakh "would
seriously harm the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, MEP Inese Vaidere from Latvia said recently in an interview.
"Firstly, the Armenian initiative to open the Khojaly airport can
be seen as a claim of a change in the status of Nagorno-Karabakh
that is a clear disagreement with the Madrid Principles. Secondly,
the opening of the air traffic between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia
could be seen as a violation of the Azerbaijani airspace and thus,
might cause a counter reaction. Therefore, the opening of the Khojaly
airport should be considered a provocation and obstacle to conflict's
resolution that endangers the mutual confidence building. Instead,
both sides should continue to comply with current practice for flights
over their territory," Vaidere said.
The MEP noted that the symbolism associated with the Khojaly tragedy
in 1992 in addition to the opening of the airport, could potentially
lead to further increased tensions in the whole region. "The plan
of opening the air traffic between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia has
already caused a knock-on effect from the Azerbaijani side, which
has announced its readiness to destroy aircrafts that are deemed to
enter their airspace. Any provocative action from either of the sides
that has a potential to make the situation more precarious has to be
internationally condemned. Furthermore, the re-opening of the Khojaly
airport by Armenian authorities could be perceived as disrespecting
both, the EU and the Minsk Group's effort in the whole peace process,"
Vaidere said.
Subscribe to the NE newsletter .. .
February 18, 2013, 20:51:13
MEPs concerned with airport re-opening in Nagorno-Karabakh Article |
February 17, 2013 - 9:50pm
The re-opening of the Khojaly airport in Nagorno-Karabakh "would
seriously harm the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, MEP Inese Vaidere from Latvia said recently in an interview.
"Firstly, the Armenian initiative to open the Khojaly airport can
be seen as a claim of a change in the status of Nagorno-Karabakh
that is a clear disagreement with the Madrid Principles. Secondly,
the opening of the air traffic between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia
could be seen as a violation of the Azerbaijani airspace and thus,
might cause a counter reaction. Therefore, the opening of the Khojaly
airport should be considered a provocation and obstacle to conflict's
resolution that endangers the mutual confidence building. Instead,
both sides should continue to comply with current practice for flights
over their territory," Vaidere said.
The MEP noted that the symbolism associated with the Khojaly tragedy
in 1992 in addition to the opening of the airport, could potentially
lead to further increased tensions in the whole region. "The plan
of opening the air traffic between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia has
already caused a knock-on effect from the Azerbaijani side, which
has announced its readiness to destroy aircrafts that are deemed to
enter their airspace. Any provocative action from either of the sides
that has a potential to make the situation more precarious has to be
internationally condemned. Furthermore, the re-opening of the Khojaly
airport by Armenian authorities could be perceived as disrespecting
both, the EU and the Minsk Group's effort in the whole peace process,"
Vaidere said.
The EU's involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution has
been a relatively passive so far, the MEP said. "The EU can certainly
do more to help resolve conflict in the region, in particular through
the Action Plans with each of the countries and also by means of the
office of EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus.
Yet another way for the EU to get more engaged in the conflict
resolution would be to replace France in the OSCE Minsk Group. Not
only would it counterbalance the key regional players Russia and the
USA but would also improve the mediation approach. It is necessary to
reach a breakthrough in the 20 years of standstill in the conflict
resolution in order to establish a lasting peace so that thousands
of IDPs are able to return to Nagorno Karabakh," Vaidere said.
Meanwhile, MEP Boris Zala from Slovakia said that there is a clear
concern in Brussels that re-opening of the airport can potentially
unfreeze the conflict. "I still hope it will not come to that. My
instinct tells me that the situation will calm down after the Armenian
presidential elections. Either way, the issue certainly impedes the
conflict resolution process, and complicates the work of the Minsk
Group and the EU," Zala said in an interview.
The Chicago Convention, through its Articles 1 and 5 namely, is
clear about a state's right to manage its own airspace and exercise
sovereignty over it. Asked how the Khojaly Airport would operate if
opened, Zala said, "There is no other way for the airport to operate
but in accordance with international and standard flight practices
- in other words, only with the authorisation of the Azerbaijani
authorities. Any other mode of operation would pose risks for the
planes and their passengers - and violate international law.
Asked what the actions the European Parliament may undertake are to
prevent the opening of Khojaly airport, Zala said that at the moment,
individual MEPs are voicing concerns. "If the situation grows more
serious, I expect the EP to adopt a resolution, mounting pressure
on both sides to avert escalation of the conflict, and on the EEAS,
the Commission, and the Council to get more involved. And let's not
forget that the EU is not without political and economic leverage over
Armenia - after all, we are entering the final stages of negotiations
on a new trade agreement. So, even if not directly involved in conflict
mediation, the EU is not powerless. And, for that matter, neither
is the European Parliament, which will need to give its consent to
closer political and trade association with Armenia," Zala said.
http://www.neurope.eu/article/meps-concerned-airport-re-opening-nagorno-karabakh
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress