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YEREVAN: AZERBAIJAN WILL FAIL TO ISOLATE NAGORNO-KARABAKH
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=9999F4C0-6640-11E2-AC8CF6327207157C
Thursday, January 24, 19:06
Azerbaijan is trying to isolate Nagorno-Karabakh, but he will fail
to, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said at a press
conference when commenting on Azerbaijan's approving new rules of
using the air space of the country, which permit shooting down all
the aircrafts flying over the republic's space without notifying
the air forces of Azerbaijan. Experts qualify the given decision as
Azerbaijan's legalization of possible attacks on aircrafts flying
to Nagorno-Karabakh and back in case the airport of Stepanakert
is launched.
In particular, Nalbandian said: "Azerbaijan is trying to make a
fuss around opening of the Stepanakert airport and to politicize
this issue. In the meantime, the OSCE Minsk Group has repeatedly
urged the parties not to do that. As for us, we are not going to
politicize this issue". The minister recalled that Baku has repeatedly
promised to the Minsk Group co-chairs not to use any force against
the civil aircrafts; however, it is trying to retract its promises
by its constant threats. Nalbandian once again expressed Armenia's
position saying that Armenia considers the launch of Stepanakert
airport exclusively in the humanitarian aspect and does not link this
issue to the Karabakh peace process.
To note, Azerbaijan's Cabinet on Jan 18 issued document on use of
airspace, which allows official Baku to shoot down civilian aircraft
deemed to violate Azeri airspace. The document, the use of which is
obviously intended to thwart plans to open the airport in Stepanakert,
allow the government of Azerbaijan to declare certain areas "banned
zones and limited zones," hence allowing the government to randomly
shoot down aircraft it deems in violation of Azeri airspace."If
the aircraft does not obey orders to land and there is no exact
information about innocent passengers onboard, the legislation permits
the government to shoot down the aircraft," reported APA. Experts
and Mass Media report that the given decision of the Azerbaijan
Government applies first of all to the Stepanakert Airport. In
addition, Azerbaijani sources received the statement by Arif Mammadov,
Head of the State Department of Civil Aviation of Azerbaijan, saying
that yet during construction of the Stepanakert Airport they tried to
take preventive measures and sent a letter to the ICAO. "We informed
that the airspace of Nagorno Karabakh is closed and in line with the
Law On Civil Aviation we plan to hit the planes entering that space
and trying to land on that territory," Mammadov said.
Earlier the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs made the following
statement: "Regarding reports of the planned opening of an airport
in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Co-Chairs received renewed assurances from
the sides that they will reject any threat or use of force against
civil aircraft, pursue the matter through diplomatic steps, and
refrain from politicizing the issue. The Co-Chairs reaffirmed that
operation of this airport cannot be used to support any claim of
a change in the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, and urged the sides to
act in accordance with international law and consistent with current
practice for flights over their territory".
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=9999F4C0-6640-11E2-AC8CF6327207157C
Thursday, January 24, 19:06
Azerbaijan is trying to isolate Nagorno-Karabakh, but he will fail
to, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said at a press
conference when commenting on Azerbaijan's approving new rules of
using the air space of the country, which permit shooting down all
the aircrafts flying over the republic's space without notifying
the air forces of Azerbaijan. Experts qualify the given decision as
Azerbaijan's legalization of possible attacks on aircrafts flying
to Nagorno-Karabakh and back in case the airport of Stepanakert
is launched.
In particular, Nalbandian said: "Azerbaijan is trying to make a
fuss around opening of the Stepanakert airport and to politicize
this issue. In the meantime, the OSCE Minsk Group has repeatedly
urged the parties not to do that. As for us, we are not going to
politicize this issue". The minister recalled that Baku has repeatedly
promised to the Minsk Group co-chairs not to use any force against
the civil aircrafts; however, it is trying to retract its promises
by its constant threats. Nalbandian once again expressed Armenia's
position saying that Armenia considers the launch of Stepanakert
airport exclusively in the humanitarian aspect and does not link this
issue to the Karabakh peace process.
To note, Azerbaijan's Cabinet on Jan 18 issued document on use of
airspace, which allows official Baku to shoot down civilian aircraft
deemed to violate Azeri airspace. The document, the use of which is
obviously intended to thwart plans to open the airport in Stepanakert,
allow the government of Azerbaijan to declare certain areas "banned
zones and limited zones," hence allowing the government to randomly
shoot down aircraft it deems in violation of Azeri airspace."If
the aircraft does not obey orders to land and there is no exact
information about innocent passengers onboard, the legislation permits
the government to shoot down the aircraft," reported APA. Experts
and Mass Media report that the given decision of the Azerbaijan
Government applies first of all to the Stepanakert Airport. In
addition, Azerbaijani sources received the statement by Arif Mammadov,
Head of the State Department of Civil Aviation of Azerbaijan, saying
that yet during construction of the Stepanakert Airport they tried to
take preventive measures and sent a letter to the ICAO. "We informed
that the airspace of Nagorno Karabakh is closed and in line with the
Law On Civil Aviation we plan to hit the planes entering that space
and trying to land on that territory," Mammadov said.
Earlier the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs made the following
statement: "Regarding reports of the planned opening of an airport
in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Co-Chairs received renewed assurances from
the sides that they will reject any threat or use of force against
civil aircraft, pursue the matter through diplomatic steps, and
refrain from politicizing the issue. The Co-Chairs reaffirmed that
operation of this airport cannot be used to support any claim of
a change in the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, and urged the sides to
act in accordance with international law and consistent with current
practice for flights over their territory".