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THE NKR FOREIGN MINISTER'S LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE UN GENERAL SECRETARY
http://nkr.am/en/news/2012-11-12/465/
2012-11-12 18:01
Excellency,
I am writing to communicate the position of my Government regarding the
issue of the rehabilitation of the Stepanakert airport and in response
to the groundless allegations of the representative of Azerbaijan to
the United Nations contained in a document circulated on 11 October
2012 (A/67/507-S/2012/754).
I feel compelled to provide certain clarifications with regard to
the fraudulent campaign of Azerbaijan aimed at misleading the
international community and justifying its policy of using force
or the threat of force against the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
Since the declaration of its independence, following the free
expression of popular will, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic has been
building its statehood based on democratic values, the rule of law,
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The independence of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic withstood the military aggression of
Azerbaijan and, since the ceasefire agreement of 1994, the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic has been fully and effectively controlling its
territory, including the airspace.
The rehabilitation of the Stepanakert airport is the sovereign
right of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and pursues solely
civilian and humanitarian objectives, including the realization of
such a basic human right as the freedom of movement.
The freedom of movement of the civilian population of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, alongside other human rights outlined in
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other core
international instruments, have already been continuously and
vehemently undermined by the ongoing Azerbaijani blockade.
The position of Azerbaijan, which openly declares its aim to fully
blockade the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and the Republic of
Armenia, runs counter to the Security Council resolutions
referred to in the communication of the Azeri delegation.
The stance of Azerbaijan is a clear manifestation of its outright
disregard for human rights and fundamental freedoms as a continuation
of its policy of the collective punishment of the civilian population.
The bellicose rhetoric and threats to shoot down civil aircraft
in particular, voiced by the high-ranking Azeri officials, are in
material breach of its international obligations and contradict the
provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
Such threats, along with the statements on the highest level declaring
all the Armenians of the world as enemy number one of Azerbaijan,
are a vivid example of the long-established anti-Armenian hysteria and
xenophobia of its state policy. The pardon and nationwide glorification
of Ramil Safarov, Azerbaijani officer, who was convicted of and
sentenced to life imprisonment in Hungary for perpetrating a brutal
hate crime, a manslaughter, is the most shocking recent manifestation
of that policy.
In this context, my Government considers the steps taken by the
Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in particular
declarations on undertaking "all necessary measures" in order
to prevent the functioning of the Stepanakert airport along with
previous threats to shoot down civil planes, as irresponsible
and politically charged actions.
The stance of Azerbaijan clearly violates the basic principles
of international civil aviation. Moreover, it runs counter to the
commitments undertaken voluntarily by Azerbaijan in the framework
of the negotiation process mediated by the States serving as
Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, namely France, the Russian Federation
and the United States of America. On 13 July 2012, the Co-Chairs
stated that, regarding reports of the planned opening of an airport
in Nagorno-Karabakh, they had received renewed assurances from the
sides that they would reject any threat or use of force against civil
aircraft, pursue the matter through diplomatic steps
and refrain from politicizing the issue.
The authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic are committed to
operating the Stepanakert airport in full compliance with
the aims and objectives of the Convention on International
Civil Aviation, including but not limited to meeting the needs of
the peoples of the world for safe, regular, efficient and
economical air transport; insuring the safe and orderly
growth of international civil aviation throughout the world;
encouraging the development of airways, airports, and air navigation
facilities for international civil aviation; promoting safety of
flight in international air navigation; and promoting generally the
development of all aspects of international civil aeronautics.
I therefore count on your assistance, Mr. Secretary-General, and
that of the United Nations and its specialized agencies, as
well as all peace-loving Member States, in the rehabilitation
of the Stepanakert airport in order to ensure that the people
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic are able to exercise their basic
human rights and fundamental freedoms.
I strongly believe that the rehabilitation of the Stepanakert
airport will contribute to the realization of the aims and objectives
of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. It may also serve
as a confidence-building measure contributing towards progress in the
negotiation process under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Karen MIRZOYAN
Stepanakert, October 26, 2012
http://nkr.am/en/news/2012-11-12/465/
2012-11-12 18:01
Excellency,
I am writing to communicate the position of my Government regarding the
issue of the rehabilitation of the Stepanakert airport and in response
to the groundless allegations of the representative of Azerbaijan to
the United Nations contained in a document circulated on 11 October
2012 (A/67/507-S/2012/754).
I feel compelled to provide certain clarifications with regard to
the fraudulent campaign of Azerbaijan aimed at misleading the
international community and justifying its policy of using force
or the threat of force against the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
Since the declaration of its independence, following the free
expression of popular will, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic has been
building its statehood based on democratic values, the rule of law,
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The independence of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic withstood the military aggression of
Azerbaijan and, since the ceasefire agreement of 1994, the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic has been fully and effectively controlling its
territory, including the airspace.
The rehabilitation of the Stepanakert airport is the sovereign
right of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and pursues solely
civilian and humanitarian objectives, including the realization of
such a basic human right as the freedom of movement.
The freedom of movement of the civilian population of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, alongside other human rights outlined in
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other core
international instruments, have already been continuously and
vehemently undermined by the ongoing Azerbaijani blockade.
The position of Azerbaijan, which openly declares its aim to fully
blockade the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and the Republic of
Armenia, runs counter to the Security Council resolutions
referred to in the communication of the Azeri delegation.
The stance of Azerbaijan is a clear manifestation of its outright
disregard for human rights and fundamental freedoms as a continuation
of its policy of the collective punishment of the civilian population.
The bellicose rhetoric and threats to shoot down civil aircraft
in particular, voiced by the high-ranking Azeri officials, are in
material breach of its international obligations and contradict the
provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
Such threats, along with the statements on the highest level declaring
all the Armenians of the world as enemy number one of Azerbaijan,
are a vivid example of the long-established anti-Armenian hysteria and
xenophobia of its state policy. The pardon and nationwide glorification
of Ramil Safarov, Azerbaijani officer, who was convicted of and
sentenced to life imprisonment in Hungary for perpetrating a brutal
hate crime, a manslaughter, is the most shocking recent manifestation
of that policy.
In this context, my Government considers the steps taken by the
Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in particular
declarations on undertaking "all necessary measures" in order
to prevent the functioning of the Stepanakert airport along with
previous threats to shoot down civil planes, as irresponsible
and politically charged actions.
The stance of Azerbaijan clearly violates the basic principles
of international civil aviation. Moreover, it runs counter to the
commitments undertaken voluntarily by Azerbaijan in the framework
of the negotiation process mediated by the States serving as
Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, namely France, the Russian Federation
and the United States of America. On 13 July 2012, the Co-Chairs
stated that, regarding reports of the planned opening of an airport
in Nagorno-Karabakh, they had received renewed assurances from the
sides that they would reject any threat or use of force against civil
aircraft, pursue the matter through diplomatic steps
and refrain from politicizing the issue.
The authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic are committed to
operating the Stepanakert airport in full compliance with
the aims and objectives of the Convention on International
Civil Aviation, including but not limited to meeting the needs of
the peoples of the world for safe, regular, efficient and
economical air transport; insuring the safe and orderly
growth of international civil aviation throughout the world;
encouraging the development of airways, airports, and air navigation
facilities for international civil aviation; promoting safety of
flight in international air navigation; and promoting generally the
development of all aspects of international civil aeronautics.
I therefore count on your assistance, Mr. Secretary-General, and
that of the United Nations and its specialized agencies, as
well as all peace-loving Member States, in the rehabilitation
of the Stepanakert airport in order to ensure that the people
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic are able to exercise their basic
human rights and fundamental freedoms.
I strongly believe that the rehabilitation of the Stepanakert
airport will contribute to the realization of the aims and objectives
of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. It may also serve
as a confidence-building measure contributing towards progress in the
negotiation process under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Karen MIRZOYAN
Stepanakert, October 26, 2012