STEPANAKERT. – Azerbaijani media misinformed the public regarding CIS Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) alleged decision not to issue certificate to the airport of Karabakh capital Stepanakert, chief of
Karabakh civil aviation Dmitry Atbashyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am. 

He stressed that Karabakh airport has not applied IAC for certificate yet.

“We did not raise such an issue and the answer of CIS IAC is thus unknown. We will apply for certification once we are sure that the airport meets certain criteria,” Atbashyan added. 

He believes that Stepanakert airport can work without the certificate issued by CIS IAC for some time.

As for the statement of the director of State Civil Aviation of Azerbaijan Arif Mammadov to destroy civil airplanes flying to Stepanakert in accordance to Azerbaijan’s laws, Atbashyan noted that Azerbaijan is a member of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and signed the convention according to which all member states are obliged not to create a threat for lives of airplane passengers of civil aviation. Meanwhile they can demand that the airplane land but have no right to attack the passengers.

Atbashyan pointed that international law is above national laws in civilized states. If Azerbaijan thinks otherwise, it is their local problem, and if Azerbaijani authorities do not recognize their own signature on 
international convention, then that state should be removed from ICAO, he added. 

Azerbaijani media reported false information claiming that CIS IAC will not issue certificate to Stepanakert airport. According to Azerbaijani media, the issue was discussed during CIS IAC president’s visit to Baku and he promised Azerbaijani authorities that the committee will not issue certificate to Stepanakert airport without Azerbaijan’s agreement.