Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 9 / Trend, M. Aliyev /
Armenia's attempts at transporting passengers between Khojaly and Yerevan Airports are provocative actions aimed at delaying peace talks and hurting negotiations, Deputy Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan party, MP Mubariz Gurbanli said in an interview with the official website of the ruling party today.
"These attempts are illegal," he said. "The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has the same opinion. Baku expressed its protest, citing the provisions and principles contained in international legal norms and conventions. In all cases, the law is on our side. Diplomatic efforts to stop these attempts are being continued."
Armenia must draw a conclusion from Azerbaijan's warnings, Gurbanli said.
"Azerbaijan has demonstrated a permanent position on this issue, and the main component of our policy is the return all occupied Azerbaijani territories", the MP said. "Azerbaijan will not compromise on this issue. The country supports the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."
According to international conventions and law, Azerbaijan preserves the right to liberate its occupied territories, he said.
"It can do this with the participation of allies," Gurbanli said.
The commissioning of the airport in Khankendi is an open violation of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
Azerbaijan banned the use of airspace over Armenia occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, as no one can guarantee a safe air corridor in the area, the head of the Azerbaijani Civil Aviation Administration, Arif Mammadov said earlier.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European Civil Aviation Conference (ICAC) also supported the position of Azerbaijan on this issue.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions regarding the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.