STEPANAKERT—Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan sent a letter to the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council in which he called on the international organization to assist in the operation of the Stepanakert Airport.
In the letter, Mirzoyan says that Azerbaijan has launched a fraudulent campaign aimed at misleading the international community and justifying its policy of using force or threat of force against the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
Minister Mirzoyan called upon the UN Secretary General, the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as all “peace-loving member states” to assist in the operation of the Stepanakert airport to ensure that the people of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic are able to exercise their basic human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The Artsakh Foreign Minister expressed strong belief that the operation of the Stepanakert airport will contribute to the realization of aims and objectives of the Convention on International Civil Aviation and may also serve as a confidence building measure contributing towards progress in the negotiation process under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
Below is the text of the letter obtained from Artsakh Foreign Ministry.
The operation of the Stepanakert airport is the sovereign right of the NKR and pursues solely civilian and humanitarian objectives, including the realization of such a basic human right as freedom of movement. Freedom of movement of the civilian population of the NKR alongside with other human rights outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other core international bodies have already been continuously and vehemently undermined by the ongoing Azerbaijani blockade. This stance of Azerbaijan is a clear manifestation of its recklesst disregard for human rights and fundamental freedoms as a continuation of its policy of collective punishment of civilian population.
The threats of Azerbaijan to shoot down civil aircrafts in particular, violates the provisions of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and runs counter to the commitments undertaken in the framework of the negotiation process mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair states, to reject any threat or use of force against civil aircraft, pursue the matter through diplomatic steps, and refrain from politicizing the issue.
Such threats, along with the statements on the highest level declaring all Armenians of the world as enemy number one of Azerbaijan are a vivid example of the long-established anti-Armenian hysteria and xenophobia of the Azeri state policy. The pardon and nationwide glorification of Ramil Safarov, Azerbaijani officer, who was convicted to the life imprisonment in Hungary for perpetuating brutal hate crime, a manslaughter, is the most shocking yet just recent manifestation of this 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.
how could they easily released ax murderer without asking world permission but we need a permission from world to start operating our own airport?
The UN and the US continually protect Kosovo. What is the difference between Kosovo and Artsakh? The people want to be free to live their lives in a normal manner with full use of the airport in Stepanakert. Why does Azerbaijan continue to freely threaten Artakh with full abandon?
The terrorist nation of Azerbaijan cares less what the Int’l community says, he has got OIL and Money $$$$$$$
They are cowards ignore them and fly remember who dares wins
Why are they appealing to the UN ? The UN can not do anything other than make a few statements.
The airport should be operational without outside interference. The necessary steps have to be undertaken to prevent o preempt any azeri outrage and recklessness . If they threaten to bring down civilian airplanes, no one should be surprised, after all who remembers the axe murderer ? . The Armenian side has a dilemma. The Azeris can attempt to shoot down an airplane; the question is what does Armenia do in that case ?. The UN aside from blabbering a few sentencious inanities can not do anything. Besides the cauldron in the caucasus is boiling, there is an urgent need to light a fuse to create an environ of utmost chaos .
I think, Artsakh government must send warning letters to the UN Security Council, OSCE Minsk Group Co Chairs, United States foriegn Secretary, London and France Autorities, repeating its rights by the International law and say that Artsakh is going to reactivate the civil flights, they (The addresses mentioned) are responsible if anything happens. In the meantime be ready for counter attack targeting oil wells and pipelines if Aderbeyjan takes any action against civil airplanes. That is the solution.
They should open the airport, period. Otherwise the azeri state will become more and more aggressive. Not opening the airport – poor judgment and weakness.
Excuse me, but who is for the opening of the airport in any case- are you ready to fly with the first flights ?? Can you imagine the situation when some aggression would be unleashed ?? The authorities of Artsakh are concerned with that no problem appears, either technical or political. They are taking measures, trust us and just contribute with your own steps and thank you very much for everything you have done and everything you will do for your fatherland.
The right for Existance:
The right for exiatance is never offered, you take it. And Artsakh got it with big sacrifice, after centuries of strugle against the invadores.
Artsakh is independant and does not need reconition of the Turk-Azeri Nomads or any one else. Even, Turk-Azeris settlements in historical Armenia is illegal.
Artsakh as independant country does not need to negociate and does not make part of Minsk Group.
Artsakh must go ahead and keep operating the airport.
Artsakh’s answer to ALiev is clear. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.
Vahan Vanagan