Airport in Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be launched before the conflict is resolved say experts

The airport in Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be launched before the conflict is resolved, say experts

The Huffington Post published an article "Khojaly - More Than Just 

an Airport". The author of the article, Chris Pincher, British Conservative 

MP and chair of the Azerbaijan All-Party Parliamentary Group, suggests 

that opening the airport is an election-related step by Serge 

Sargsyan, who, in his view, does not want to consider a resolution of 

the conflict: "The proposal to open the airport may have as much to do 

with low politics as high principle: Armenian President Serge 

Sarkisian is running for re-election in February and the announcement 

will certainly make for good headlines in Yerevan." 

"At first glance this might not appear to be a hugely provocative 

move. However, most experts suggest that the potential opening 

violates international law, including several provisions of the 

Chicago Convention - in particular, articles 1, 2, 5, 6, 10-16, 24 and 

68. Legally, Khojaly airport cannot operate, as unauthorised flights 

through Azerbaijani airspace are not permitted without that 

government's sanction, and any violations could have unpredictable 

consequences. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a 

specialised UN agency, is also strongly supportive of Azerbaijan on 

this issue," Pincher writes. 

"But leaving all the legal implications aside, such a step could only 

undermine precisely what the international community is working hard 

for - slow and steady progress through peace talks and confidence 

building measures. So it is not surprising that the international 

reaction to the proposed re-opening was unequivocal in its 

condemnation," he concludes.