Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr E. Huseynli / A source at the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence stated on 18 April that Azerbaijani National Military can conduct military exercises over its occupied territories at its own discretion.
The Ministry has noted that Azerbaijan does not feel the need to infiltrate territories not belonging to them, including Armenia, and has no intentions to infiltrate into its territory by air. "Unlike Armenia we have not occupied land belonging to another country, nor have we infiltrated into its air territory. Undoubtedly, the air over the occupied territories belongs to Azerbaijan," Ministry stated.
The Ministry was commenting on the statement made by the Mikael Arutunian, the acting Defence Minister of Armenia. Arutunian had stated that in case Azerbaijani Air Forces interfere into the airspace of Armenia or Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian Air-Raid Service will do the same.
Azerbaijani Defence Ministry sticks to idem position. "International organizations should condemn air manoeuvres conducted by Armenian Air Forces over Azerbaijani territory, as Armenia has occupied Azerbaijani territory and thus violated the international legal regulations. Legal violations rapidly increase, as the territories out of controlled at present.