AZERBAIJAN’S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER CLARIFIES WHETHER CIVIL AIRCRAFTS VIOLATING COUNTRY’S AIRSPACE WILL BE SHOT DOWN OR NOT

[ 04 February 2013 12:31 ]

Araz Azimov: “Armenia’s intention to open Khojaly airport does not
have humanitarian purpose”

Baku. Viktoriya Dementyeva – APA. “Azerbaijan will not allow illegal
flights over its airspace,” Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan
Araz Azimov told journalists while commenting on the views of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization Secretary General Nikolay
Bordyuzha regarding Khojaly airport, APA reports.

Araz Azimov said Azerbaijan is not going to shoot down civil aircrafts.

“There are certain rules in accordance with Chicago Convention and
Azerbaijan recognizes these rules. In order to prevent illegal
flights, these rules envisage forcing the aircraft to land in
certain airdrome. Therefore, it is not right to speculate beforehand
“Azerbaijan will shoot down civil aircrafts”. The Armenian side
attempts to scare us with flights to Khojaly airport. Firstly, this
is illegal. On the other hand this issue has political-ideological
essence, because such steps will be an insult to the memory of the
Azerbaijanis killed in Khojaly. Moreover, these territories are under
occupation, changing the infrastructure there runs contrary to the
international law and illegal opening of the air corridor will mean
occupation of the airspace,” he said.

According to Araz Azimov, some forces reproach Azerbaijan for standing
against the steps for humanitarian purposes: “First, about 30 000
Armenians live in Karabakh, I consider that Lachin corridor, through
which minimum 70 trucks are driven everyday, is sufficient to ensure
their needs. Therefore, it is not necessary to open the airspace for
humanitarian purposes and it is clear that all of this is pretext.

They are trying to use the airspace for other purposes, including
transportation of special cargo and military equipment to Karabakh
with the view of continuing the occupation and changing the situation
in their favor. It is clear that humanitarian aspect here is out
of question.”

Araz Azimov said Azerbaijan has already sent its message to Armenia
and the co-chairing countries on this issue: “Many countries called
on Armenia to refrain from such steps. I hope that Armenia will not
take this step.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress