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BAKU: Moscow will not make an objective statement on Khojaly airport

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  • BAKU: Moscow will not make an objective statement on Khojaly airport

    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.

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