EU calls for diplomatic solution to Stepanakert airport issue

The European Union wants Armenia and Azerbaijan to solve the issue around the possible operation of an airport in Karabakh to be solved diplomatically to avoid any further tensions in the region.

This was stated by European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule after his meeting with the visiting speaker of the Armenian parliament, Hovik Abrahamyan, in Brussels on Thursday.

The operation of the airport near Stepanakert has been a prickly issue ever since Karabakh authorities reconstructed the facility with an intension to put it into use for civilian flights to and from Yerevan in May 2011. Karabakh officials have repeatedly postponed the launch of flights amid threats from Baku to shoot down any aircraft taking off or landing in Karabakh, which Azerbaijan still considers to be its territory.

The latest warnings against the operation of the Stepanakert airport were heard from Baku earlier this week following reports that Karabakh intended to lunch the first commercial Stepanakert-Yerevan-Stepanakert flight after New Year holidays.

A statement issued for the press following the Fule-Abrahamyan meeting reads: “Issues concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process were discussed, including the issue of possible flights to the airport in Nagorno-Karabakh. Commissioner Fule reiterated the EU’s continued support for the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and their efforts in facilitating a peaceful settlement. He also stressed the need for the sides to seek a diplomatic solution to issues relating to this airport and to avoid any actions that could fuel tensions in the region.”