Menu
Latest
Menu
Latest
Commentary

Baku warns again against opening of Stepanakert airport

20 September 2012

The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Ellman Abdullaev, has warned that the opening of Stepanakert Airport in Nagorno-Karabakh will harm the peace process.

According to Azerbaijani media he said that "such a step made by Armenia shows that official Yerevan has no intention on the regulation of the conflict in the region and that Azerbaijan has appealed for several times to international organizations on the issue." Abdullaev added that  “This fact must be strictly condemned by the international community”.

Commonspace.eu political editor said that the newly reconstructed airport in Stepanakert has been ready for some months and is able to receive its first passengers and planes. The authorities of the self declared Nagorno-Karabaklh Republic have said that it will be opened soon, and the Armenian side is likely waiting for the 'right' political moment for what undoubtedly be perceived by Baku to be a provocative step. Baku has promised reprisals in case the airport is open, but earlier claims by some Azerbaijani officials that planes flying to the airport will be shot have later beedn dismissed by more authoritative Azerbaijani sources. Azerbaijan however has a number of steps it can take in the field of civil aviation, that it may resort too.

source: commonspace.eu

photo: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Baku (archive picture).

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged
Trending

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

9 June 2021
Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Mask off
Trending

Mask off

30 April 2024
Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder and honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream party, addressed a large crowd of supporters in Georgia's capital Tbilisi on Monday, 29 April as the standoff between Government and opposition continues. In a fiery speech, considered as the most radical of his political career, Ivanishvili lambasted the US and NATO, accusing them of seeing Georgia only as cannon fodder. He slammed the country's opposition and civil society and promised a heavy handed approach towards the opposition following next October elections. The mask that had hid the true Ivanishvili for the last twelve years finally fell. Ivanishvili accused NGOs of trying to organise a revolution and threatened all those who oppose him. He said "I know many of our supporters were dissatisfied that we did not punish the United National Movement enough. Even though many of their leaders spent time in prison and their leader [Saakashvili] is still in prison, it is true that we did not pass the UNM in a tribunal as such, did not condemn it as a treasonous, criminal entity that it is. Why did not we do it? Because we were under tremendous pressure. In fact, UNM was appointed the opposition [in 2012] just like they were appointed as government [in 2003] by the global party of war. The Georgian people should decide the country’s fate. After the [victory in] elections, we will issue a strict political and legal condemnation to the collective UNM [meaning NGOs and political opponents]; it will get the due punishment it deserves. They will pay for all the crimes against the Georgian people."

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Mask off
Trending

Mask off

30 April 2024
Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder and honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream party, addressed a large crowd of supporters in Georgia's capital Tbilisi on Monday, 29 April as the standoff between Government and opposition continues. In a fiery speech, considered as the most radical of his political career, Ivanishvili lambasted the US and NATO, accusing them of seeing Georgia only as cannon fodder. He slammed the country's opposition and civil society and promised a heavy handed approach towards the opposition following next October elections. The mask that had hid the true Ivanishvili for the last twelve years finally fell. Ivanishvili accused NGOs of trying to organise a revolution and threatened all those who oppose him. He said "I know many of our supporters were dissatisfied that we did not punish the United National Movement enough. Even though many of their leaders spent time in prison and their leader [Saakashvili] is still in prison, it is true that we did not pass the UNM in a tribunal as such, did not condemn it as a treasonous, criminal entity that it is. Why did not we do it? Because we were under tremendous pressure. In fact, UNM was appointed the opposition [in 2012] just like they were appointed as government [in 2003] by the global party of war. The Georgian people should decide the country’s fate. After the [victory in] elections, we will issue a strict political and legal condemnation to the collective UNM [meaning NGOs and political opponents]; it will get the due punishment it deserves. They will pay for all the crimes against the Georgian people."