Turkey tries to prevent flights of Stepanakert-bound civil aircrafts

Turkey tries to prevent flights of Stepanakert-bound civil aircrafts

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic said that the issue of flights of aircrafts to the airport under construction in Stepanakert should be solved as per the international law.

“The decision should be based on the international law and comply with Azerbaijan’s interests,” the diplomat said, adding that Turkey has always stood by Azerbaijan in all matters, including that of airport construction in Stepanakert, Novosti-Azerbaijan reported.

Azeri threats to shoot down planes bound for Stepanakert will not frighten Karabakh, according to the head of the central information department at the office of the Artsakh President. As David Babayan stated in a conversation with PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, “the threats are a proof that medieval psychology is prevalent in Azerbaijan. Those who issue them do not simply lack in self-possession, but openly support Nazi values.”

“The international community must adequately respond to criminal statements of the kind,” he stressed. “Azerbaijan seeks to scare Artsakh people into refusing to use airport services. We are determined to open the airport, no matter whom it vexes in Azerbaijan. Any slight attempt Azerbaijan might take will be fraught with unpredictable repercussions for Azerbaijan itself.”

Earlier, Baku threatened to shoot down civilian planes flying to Karabakh after reopening of Stepanakert airport. As Baku's state aviation agency said it has informed the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that the region's airspace was closed and any flights would be unauthorized. "According to the law on aviation, it is even possible to physically destroy airplanes which are heading there," Arif Mammadov, director of Azerbaijan's Civil Aviation Administration, said in comments to local media. "We asked the ICAO to notify the opposing side in order to prevent incidents," he said.

Stepanakert airport will be ready for operation in May 2011. “The airport’s terminal is ready. Currently, the tower is being constructed,” the head of the department of civil aviation at the Artsakh government, Dmitry Atbashyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. “The airport will be well equipped. Young specialists are being trained to take up duties by the opening date,” he said.

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