The Nkr Foreign Minister’s Letter Addressed To The Un General Secret

THE NKR FOREIGN MINISTER’S LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE UN GENERAL SECRETARY

2012-11-12 18:01

Excellency,

I am writing to communicate the position of my Government regarding the
issue of the rehabilitation of the Stepanakert airport and in response
to the groundless allegations of the representative of Azerbaijan to
the United Nations contained in a document circulated on 11 October
2012 (A/67/507-S/2012/754).

I feel compelled to provide certain clarifications  with regard to
the fraudulent campaign of Azerbaijan   aimed  at  misleading the
international community and justifying  its  policy  of using force
or the threat of force against the  people  of Nagorno Karabakh.

Since  the  declaration  of  its  independence,  following  the  free
expression  of popular will, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic has been
building its statehood based on democratic values, the rule of law,
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The independence of
the Nagorno Karabakh  Republic  withstood  the military aggression of
Azerbaijan and, since the ceasefire agreement of 1994, the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic has been fully and effectively controlling its
territory, including the airspace.

The  rehabilitation  of  the  Stepanakert  airport  is  the  sovereign
 right  of  the Nagorno  Karabakh  Republic  and  pursues  solely
civilian  and  humanitarian objectives, including the realization of
such a basic human right as the freedom of movement.

The freedom of movement of the civilian population of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic,  alongside  other  human  rights  outlined  in
 the  Universal  Declaration  of Human  Rights  and other core
international  instruments,  have already  been continuously and
vehemently undermined by the ongoing Azerbaijani blockade.

The position of Azerbaijan, which openly declares its aim to fully
blockade the Nagorno  Karabakh  Republic  and  the  Republic  of
Armenia,  runs  counter  to  the Security   Council   resolutions
referred   to   in   the   communication   of   the  Azeri delegation.

The stance of Azerbaijan is a clear manifestation of its outright
disregard for human rights and fundamental freedoms as a continuation
of its policy of the collective punishment of the civilian population.

The  bellicose  rhetoric  and  threats  to  shoot  down  civil aircraft
 in  particular, voiced by the high-ranking Azeri officials, are in
material breach of its international obligations and contradict the
provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Such threats, along with the statements on the highest level declaring
all the Armenians of the world as enemy number one of Azerbaijan,
are a vivid example of the long-established anti-Armenian hysteria and
xenophobia of its state policy. The pardon and nationwide glorification
of Ramil Safarov, Azerbaijani officer, who was convicted of and
sentenced to life imprisonment in Hungary for perpetrating a brutal
hate crime, a manslaughter, is the most shocking recent manifestation
of that policy.

In this context, my Government  considers the steps taken by the
Government of  the  Republic   of  Azerbaijan,   in  particular
declarations   on  undertaking   “all necessary  measures”  in order
to prevent the functioning  of the Stepanakert  airport along  with
previous   threats  to  shoot  down  civil  planes,   as irresponsible
  and politically charged actions.

The stance of Azerbaijan clearly violates the basic principles
of international civil aviation. Moreover, it runs counter to the
commitments  undertaken voluntarily by Azerbaijan  in the framework
of the negotiation  process  mediated  by the States serving as
Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation  in  Europe,  namely  France,  the  Russian  Federation
and  the  United States of America. On 13 July 2012, the Co-Chairs
stated that, regarding reports of the planned opening of an airport
in Nagorno-Karabakh, they had received renewed assurances from the
sides that they would reject any threat or use of force against civil
aircraft,   pursue   the   matter   through   diplomatic   steps  
and   refrain   from politicizing the issue.

The authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic are committed to
operating the  Stepanakert  airport  in  full  compliance  with
 the aims  and  objectives  of  the Convention on International
Civil Aviation, including but not limited to meeting the needs  of
 the peoples  of  the  world  for  safe,  regular,  efficient  and
economical  air transport;   insuring   the  safe  and  orderly
growth  of  international   civil  aviation throughout the world;
encouraging the development of airways, airports, and air navigation
facilities for international civil aviation; promoting safety of
flight in international air navigation; and promoting generally the
development of all aspects of international civil aeronautics.

I therefore count on your assistance, Mr.  Secretary-General,  and
that  of the United  Nations  and  its  specialized  agencies,  as
well  as  all  peace-loving  Member States,  in the  rehabilitation
of the  Stepanakert  airport  in order  to ensure  that  the people
of the Nagorno  Karabakh  Republic  are able to exercise  their  basic
 human rights and fundamental freedoms.

I strongly   believe   that the rehabilitation   of the Stepanakert
airport   will contribute to the realization of the aims and objectives
of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. It may also serve
as a confidence-building measure contributing towards progress in the
negotiation process under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Karen MIRZOYAN

Stepanakert, October 26, 2012