Diaspora

Diaspora

UK Azerbaijanis mobilise to petition UK Prime Minister on Khojaly Airport opening

05 February 2013 14:36 (UTC +04:00)

The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) told APA that the petition on Khojaly Airport submitted by Anar Orujov reads as follows:

“In light of the negative impact this would have on peace negotiations, we urge the Prime Minister of the UK to make representations with the Government of Armenia not to encourage the illegal opening of the airport of Khojaly in the occupied territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Khojaly Airport was closed on 25 February 1992, after being occupied by Armenian forces during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The airport was rebuilt during 2010–11, and its potential opening has already drawn condemnation from the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, the OSCE, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Operating flights from Khojaly Airport would represent an expansion of the Armenian military occupation into Azerbaijani airspace with potentially disastrous consequences.”

The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) encourages all Azerbaijanis who are resident in the UK to sign the petition (http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/45179) and bring this matter to the attention of the UK Government.