Seyran Ohanyan: Armenian Air Forces and anti-air craft defence ensure safety of flights in Karabakh

Yerevan/18.01.13/Turan-ArmInfo: The Armenian Air Forces and Anti-air Craft Defence ensure the safety of civil aircraft, flying to Karabakh, said at the press conference on January 18  the Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, commenting on Azerbaijan's readiness to stop flying passenger planes from Yerevan to Karabakh and back.

"After taking a final decision on the operation of the Stepanakert airport, the  air force of  Armenia jointly with defense provide scheduled flights to Stepanakert,"  said the Minister.

Opening of the new airport in Khojaly repeatedly was postponed by the Armenian side on various occasions. A few days ago spokeswoman of the  leader of Karabakh separatists, David Babayan, said that the airport will be opened in the near future.

According to unofficial information, the Armenian side wanted to make its first flight on December 24, the birthday of President Ilham Aliyev, but changed mind at the last moment. According to the same sources, the Armenians can  organize  such flight on February 25-26, on  the anniversary of the occupation of Khojaly in 1992.

Azerbaijani military action against such flights seriously aggravate the situation in the conflict zone, and can provoke a large-scale military action. Earlier, the U.S. experts analyzed pictures from space showing placing in Goris region of Armenia and Karabakh itself an  air defense systems S-300, as well as other anti-aircraft systems. -02D-