French Ambassador's statement added (the first version published at 17:48)
Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 22 / Trend, J. Nasibova, E. Tariverdiyeva /
It is unacceptable and impermissible for any plane to fly over any territory without the permission of the state to which the territory belongs, German Ambassador to Azerbaijan Herbert Quelle told reporters during an event at the Diplomatic Academy of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Elysee Treaty on Tuesday.
"If Azerbaijan does not give permission to anybody to use its territory, this use is illegal," the ambassador said, answering journalists' questions on the opening of the airport in occupied Khojaly.
French ambassador to Azerbaijan Pascal Meunier also commented on the situation around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
According to the ambassador, the parties should refrain from provocations.
"France as co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group will continue to make every effort to resolve the conflict", said Meunier.
Armenian media reported on the commissioning of the airport in Khojaly in the near future.
Commissioning the airport in Khojaly is an open violation of the Convention on International Civil Aviation [adopted on December 7, 1944 in Chicago], the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported earlier. In this regard, Azerbaijan will strengthen the legal level of the application of the Chicago convention.
Azerbaijan has banned the use of the airspace of Nagorno-Karabakh occupied by Armenia, as no one can guarantee a safe air corridor in the area, the head of the Azerbaijani Civil Aviation Administration, Arif Mammadov said earlier.
He said Armenia's steps directed towards use of Khojaly airport are attempts to violate international legal norms. That air space belongs to Azerbaijan; therefore its use by Armenia is illegal.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European Civil Aviation Conference (ICAC) also support 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 on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.