Armenians prepare to start Khojaly airport

"The Stepanakert airport will begin technical flights early in the New Year," said the head of the so-called "government" of Karabakh Ara Harutyunyan.

"The airport is ready to receive aircraft, and we are waiting for the first flight every day after the New Year," said Harutyunyan at a press conference on December 28. In his words, "the initial flights will be technical, which will last 3-4 months, and after completion of the technical procedures the aircraft will begin carrying passengers."

Harutyunyan noted that nothing delays the flights any longer, but the date of the first flight has not been determined. The Armenian side plans that flights from the airport to Yerevan will take place 1-2 times a day. The opening of the airport was planned in mid-September 2011. However, after the warning from Baku that the flights are illegal and Azerbaijan will not allow their implementation, the Armenian side refused to start them.

International organizations called on the parties not to exacerbate the situation and to find a peaceful solution.

Recall that the airport is in the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly, which was occupied by the Armenians on February 25-26, 1992, with hundreds of Azerbaijani civilians killed. -02D-