Azerbaijani Defence Ministry: Armenian army will be driven out of Karabakh

If Armenia operates unauthorised flights over the territory of Azerbaijan, all the necessary measures shall be taken. This was relayed to reporters by the spokesman for the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry, Colonel Eldar Sabiroglu on Wednesday.

"Armenia should abandon its aggressive position. According to the Chicago Convention, one country may not illegally cross borders of another. All the necessary measures shall be taken in the case of illegal border crossing," Sabiroglu said.

According to him, the attempt of conducting unauthorised flights will create major obstacles to a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Sabiroglu emphasised that if Armenia does not adjust its actions and attempts to conduct unauthorised flights, Azerbaijan will retain its position and these illegal flights will aggravate the position of Armenia in the region.

"Therefore, it would be better if they refrain from those intentions. International organisations and parliamentarians of other countries have also negatively commented on this issue," Sabiroglu said.

Earlier, Armenian media reported on the intended commissioning of the airport in Khojaly in the near future.

The commissioning of the airport is an open violation of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (adopted on December 7, 1944 in Chicago), the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported earlier.

Azerbaijan will strengthen the legal use of the application of the Chicago convention.

Azerbaijan banned the use of its airspace over Nagorno-Karabakh occupied by Armenia, as no one can guarantee safe flights in the area, the Azerbaijani Civil Aviation Administration said earlier.

According to Azerbaijani Civil Aviation Administration, Armenia's steps towards the operation of the airport are attempts to violate international aviation law.

This air space belongs to Azerbaijan, so its use by Armenia is illegal.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European Civil Aviation Conference (ICAC) also support the position of Azerbaijan on this issue.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. - are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

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The cause of what is happening on the contact line between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops is that Armenia doesn't free the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, head of the press service of the Defence Ministry of Azerbaijan, Colonel Eldar Sabiroglu said.

"Armenia violates the ceasefire throughout the entire line of contact. Azerbaijani armed forces give them a fitting rebuff. Unfortunately violation of the ceasefire on the contact line leads to losses and injuries on both sides. That is inevitable, " Sabiroglu said.

Armenia has to free the territories, occupied over 20 years ago, he said. "The day will come, when the Armenian army stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh will be driven out," Sabiroglu said.

Armenia shouldn't be proud of solely occupying territories of Azerbaijan. This is not the case. Supporters of the aggressor have given it the maximum assistance, the head of the press service stated.

"The armed forces of Azerbaijan possess sufficient strength to protect the state and its people," Sabiroglu said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. - are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four U.N. Security Council resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.


/Trend/