STEPANAKERT-BOUND FLIGHTS TO OPERATE, REGARDLESS OF BAKU’S VIEWS
November 27, 2012 – 17:42 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net – OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ visit to the region
hasn’t affected the issue of Stepanakert airport operation, former
Foreign Minister of Artsakh Republic said.
Arman Melikyan stressed the need for the Co-Chairs to have expressed
a clear stance on the issue during their visit.
“U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier called for a
solution in line with the international legal documents and practice,”
Melikyan said, adding international practice dismisses restrictions
on operations of flights by civil aircrafts.
“The flexibility of the Armenian side may play a significant role in
problem solution, despite the unfavorable situation for us.
Stepanakert-Yerevan flight may operate without the Azerbaijani
leadership’s consent. However, there would be no such problem if
Armenia started Artsakh recognition campaign and concluded relevant
agreements,” he said, adding that Turkey operates flights in the
direction of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
New Times party leader Aram Karapetyan, in turn, noted that OSCE
Minsk Group Co-Chairs are trying to avoid any issue that may signal
a renewal of war.
“They aim to avert the transformation of the Middle East crisis to
the South Caucasus,” he said, deeming operation of Stepanakert-bound
flights possible from another country.
From: A. Papazian