YEREVAN. - The opening of Stepanakert airport is not within the OSCE Minsk Group`s terms of reference. Whether they like it or not, the airport will be put into operation, Galust Sahakyan, Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group, told a press briefing in Parliament as he commented on the OSCE Minsk Group`s concern over the planned opening of the airport.

The OSCE MG`s mission is to ensure an uninterrupted Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, which it is actually doing now.

Artyusha Shahbazyan, Secretary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) parliamentary group, stated the OSCE MG`s concern over the operation of Stepanakert airport was first of all addressed to Azerbaijan. The MP recalled that Azerbaijan made a fuss about the planned opening of Stepanakert airport, but had to put up with the idea. The Azerbaijani leadership`s warlike statements are primarily intended for domestic audience. “Azerbaijani leaders say one thing at home, whereas they say different things at the negotiations abroad,” the Armenian MP said. Shahbazyan is concerned that Baku may eventually fulfill its threats.

Aram Safaryan, Secretary of the Prosperous Armenia group, regards the OSCE MG`s statement as a practical step in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. The nearer is the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict the stronger is the Turkey-Azerbaijan alliance`s oppostition.

As to the OSCE MG`s concern over the security of Stepanakert airport, Safaryan said that the airport must operate despite everything as it will promote Nagorno-Karabakh`s economic development and regional integration. “In turn, it will facilitate settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Safaryan said.