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Trend, Azerbaijan
March 7 2013
Expert: Moscow will not make an objective statement on Khojaly airport
Azerbaijan, Baku, Mar. 7 / Trend, E. Tariverdiyeva /
The issue of Khojaly airport will certainly be discussed with
President Serzh Sargsyan during his visit to Moscow and his meeting
with President Vladimir Putin, Trend Expert Council member, Western
University professor, political analyst Fikret Sadikhov said.
However Russia, as a Co-Chair of the Minsk Group, must adhere to the
statements of the Minsk Group that the start of operation of the
airport will only exacerbate tensions in the region and in relations
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, he said.
"I do not think that Russia will make any statements differing from
those of the Minsk Group. However, Moscow will not make any more
objective and clear statements with notes of pressure on Armenia
regarding the occupation of Azerbaijani territories, opening of the
airport in Khojaly and intention to start its operation, which is a
violation of international law," Sadikhov said on Thursday.
As for the visit, the expert believes that it was quite expected that
Sargsyan's first visit after his re-election was to Moscow.
According to the expert, Russia supports long-term political-military
cooperation with Armenia; the two countries have unity on many issues.
"Sargsyan needs external support, the support of the major powers. The
situation in Armenia is extremely restless, opposition rallies are
held against Sargsyan's government. However, in the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Russia's position remains invariant as of a co-chair of the
Minsk Group," he said.
According to the expert, no progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
should be expected after the meeting of Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir
Putin.
Earlier, Armenian media reported on the intended commissioning of the
airport in 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 use of the application of the
Chicago convention.
Azerbaijan banned the use of its airspace over Nagorno-Karabakh
occupied by Armenia, as no one can guarantee safe flights in the area,
the 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 per cent 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.
March 7 2013
Expert: Moscow will not make an objective statement on Khojaly airport
Azerbaijan, Baku, Mar. 7 / Trend, E. Tariverdiyeva /
The issue of Khojaly airport will certainly be discussed with
President Serzh Sargsyan during his visit to Moscow and his meeting
with President Vladimir Putin, Trend Expert Council member, Western
University professor, political analyst Fikret Sadikhov said.
However Russia, as a Co-Chair of the Minsk Group, must adhere to the
statements of the Minsk Group that the start of operation of the
airport will only exacerbate tensions in the region and in relations
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, he said.
"I do not think that Russia will make any statements differing from
those of the Minsk Group. However, Moscow will not make any more
objective and clear statements with notes of pressure on Armenia
regarding the occupation of Azerbaijani territories, opening of the
airport in Khojaly and intention to start its operation, which is a
violation of international law," Sadikhov said on Thursday.
As for the visit, the expert believes that it was quite expected that
Sargsyan's first visit after his re-election was to Moscow.
According to the expert, Russia supports long-term political-military
cooperation with Armenia; the two countries have unity on many issues.
"Sargsyan needs external support, the support of the major powers. The
situation in Armenia is extremely restless, opposition rallies are
held against Sargsyan's government. However, in the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Russia's position remains invariant as of a co-chair of the
Minsk Group," he said.
According to the expert, no progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
should be expected after the meeting of Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir
Putin.
Earlier, Armenian media reported on the intended commissioning of the
airport in 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 use of the application of the
Chicago convention.
Azerbaijan banned the use of its airspace over Nagorno-Karabakh
occupied by Armenia, as no one can guarantee safe flights in the area,
the 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 per cent 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.