Epress.am News from Armenia
From an aeronautical point of view, Stepanakert International Airport is ready to implement flights at any time; however, it still needs the permission of Azerbaijan, head of the Nagorno-Karabakh Civil Aviation Department Dmitry Adbashyan said in an interview with “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily.
The airport, the official said, can operate without the recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, “if there are good intentions towards our people.”
“They can allow our civilian aircraft to fly, make restrictions, etc. For example, there are international flights to Cyprus via Turkey; Cypriot people are able to fly around the world, despite Northern Cyprus not being recognized. We, on the other hand, aren't allowed to even fly to Yerevan,” Adbashyan said.
According to the head of NKR Aviation Department, it depends on the goodwill of Azerbaijan, which the country does not show.
“We've had numerous visits from representatives of different international organizations; they asked [why the airport was not operating], and I explained: 'You have adopted a Declaration of Human Rights, signed by both Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as Turkey. The Declaration reads that the rights of the people are not related to the status of the territory they live on. Whether the area is recognized or not, everyone has equal rights, including freedom of movement. So now I'm asking: why aren't the people of Karabakh allowed to move freely?' Their answer is: 'You know that there are double standards in Europe',” Adbashyan concluded.