Yerevan, June 15. /Mediamax/. President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), Bako Sahakian, said that the works for the exploitation of Stepanakert airport “should be held perfectly”.

Mediamax reports that NKR President discussed issues related to the activity of the airport with the head of Chief Department of Civil Aviation under the Armenian government, Artyom Movsesyan, at a meeting in Stepanakert, June 14.

On May 6, 2011, Armenian President Serzh Sargsian familiarized himself with the works on bringing the Stepanakert airport into operation. Earlier, the President stated that he will be the first passenger of Yerevan-Stepanakert flight.

The statement issued by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs on April 14, particularly, said:

“The Co-Chairs expressed their concern that the planned opening of an airport in Nagorno-Karabakh could lead to further increased tensions.  They cautioned that the operation of flights to and from this airport could not be used to support any claim of a change in the current status of Nagorno-Karabakh under international law. The Co-Chairs urged the sides to reach an understanding in keeping with international conventions and agreements, as well as current practice between Armenia and Azerbaijan for flights over their territory. The Co-Chairs welcomed assurances from the sides that they will reject any threat or attack against civil aircraft, pursue the matter through diplomatic steps, and refrain from politicizing the issue.”

Commenting by Mediamax’s request on this statement, spokesman for the NKR President, David Babayan, said:

“There are no political circumstances for dragging out the opening of Stepanakert airport, there are only some minor technical problems. The airport will be put into operation as soon as it is fully ready. The airport must be completely ready and equipped the opening day”.