HOW WILL BAKO SAHAKYAN TRAVEL?
JAMES HAKOBYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
Published: 17:58:43 – 25/01/2012
New deadline for operation of Stepanakert Airport was announced –
June or July of 2012
The airport was expected to be launched in May 2011, and in response
to Azerbaijan’s threats to strike the planes flying to NKR Serzh
Sargsyan announced that he will be the first passenger. However,
Serzh Sargsyan’s life was not put at risk because the deadline for the
operation of the airport of Stepanakert was extended. It was extended
for an uncertain period of time, and now a new deadline is announced –
June or July.
No doubt the problem is political rather than refurbishment. The
operation of the airport will be protracted until Armenia and Karabakh
get the approval of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.
It should be noted that Azerbaijan which used to threaten future
flights suddenly went silent. Either the co-chairs told Azerbaijan
that there is no need to shout and shake fists or assured that the
airport will not be approved by the Minsk Group anyway.
And is it possible to operate the airport without an approval or with
the approval of at least one co-chair? Of course, it is possible but
there will be a risk.
Does Stepanakert need an airport at all? Certainly if needs an airport
but if its operation will be delayed again and again and the airport
will be something like a banner, it is already not so serious.
The plan of the construction of the second Armenia-Karabakh highway
would be more serious. It would be even more serious to spend the
money allocated for the airport on the construction of the highway.
The construction seems to have started but maybe it is worthwhile to
speed up construction with this money.
It is also worthwhile to consider implementing other strategic
programs, such as the North-South highway, as well as other roads
in NKR. There are so many strategic targets in NKR that spending on
the airport could be postponed. It certainly would not affect the
security of Karabakh, as well as the quality of life of its people
and even the process of international recognition of Artsakh which
does not seem to be in place.
Recognition will hardly get nearer if the NKR President Bako Sahakyan
leaves the country to participate in the international telethon by
car. In other words, the airport of Stepanakert seems to be built
for the vanity and comfort of the Armenian “elite” rather than for
the strategic needs of Karabakh.
Otherwise, I wonder why the operation of the airport is postponed
over and over.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
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