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Khojaly - More Than Just An Airport

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  • Khojaly - More Than Just An Airport

    KHOJALY - MORE THAN JUST AN AIRPORT

    http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/chris-pincher/khojaly-more-than-just-an-airport_b_2580334.html
    Posted: 30/01/2013 12:00

    Another week, another round of talks aimed at reaching a peace deal
    between Armenia and Azerbaijan, this time with both their foreign
    ministers meeting in Paris. The two countries have been locked
    in a territorial conflict over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh and
    seven other surrounding regions for over 20 years. Despite four UN
    Security Council Resolutions, Armenia has steadfastly refused to
    end its military occupation of the territory or allow hundreds of
    thousands of displaced refugees to return home.

    While the peace talks under the auspices of the OSCE continue, there
    have recently been suggestions that the Armenian authorities in the
    breakaway region plan to re-open the airport at Khojaly, just outside
    the region's capital of Khankendi.

    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.

    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.

    The American envoy to the Azeri capital Baku, Richard Morningstar,
    appealed against the move by saying that: "The Minsk Group co-chairs
    said that the parties need to abstain from steps that may affect
    the peace process. The opening of the airport in Khojaly may create
    tensions in peace talks"

    Mr Morningstar was referring to an earlier statement by the OSCE Minsk
    Group, made up of the US, France and Russia, which is charged with
    leading peace negotiations. In their statement, the co-chairs expressed
    caution about the operation of flights to and from the Khojaly airport,
    saying they could not be used to support any claim of a change in
    the current status of Nagorno-Karabakh under international law.

    A statement from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
    said Armenia's actions could damage the negotiated process on peaceful
    settlement, thus straining the tense situation in the region. The
    Norwegian foreign minister, who visited the region recently, was even
    more forthright in his warning: "Norway condemns carrying out flights
    from this airport. Armenia must not resort to provocative action."

    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.

    But Azerbaijan's indignant reaction, and the ensuing war of words,
    has only reignited existing tensions in the region. And as a member of
    the Commons Energy Select Committee I know how important Azerbaijan is
    to Europe's energy security, especially in the wake of the infamous
    Russo-Ukrainian gas rows. Should these latest tensions spiral into
    full-scale conflict, the consequences will be felt not just by the
    Caucasus region, but by the whole of Europe. And as we live in a world
    of complex economic interconnections, those consequences could easily
    wash up on British shores.

    There is, however, another reason why Azerbaijan feels hurt at
    Armenia's plans. The airport in question is located at the site of the
    most notorious massacre in the 1988-1994 conflict when, on the 26th
    February 1992, 613 civilians of the town of Khojaly were massacred
    by Armenian forces.

    No one disputes the right of civilians to free movement. But surely
    the right time to start talking about re-opening the airport is once
    the hostilities are over, and when the people who were expelled from
    their homes and who currently languish in displaced person camps are
    given the chance to return to their homes. Only then can normality,
    and freedom, return to this troubled region.

    Follow Chris Pincher on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ChrisPincher

    Chris Pincher

    Conservative MP, Energy and Climate Change Select Committee member
    and chair of the Azerbaijan All-Party Parliamentary Group

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