Azernews.Az

The OSCE Minsk Group brokering settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict does not show a proper principle stand over the issue of the opening of Khojaly airport, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said, Trend news agency reported.

"The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs hold a diffident position on this issue. They should understand that if Armenia undertakes such an instigating step, it will lead to a crisis. Azerbaijan cannot forgive such an illegal act and will not be silent," Azimov told journalists on Wednesday.

Answering the question on Armenia's digression from the negotiation process in connection with upcoming presidential election in the country, Azimov stressed that they are held every four years, and this step of Armenia cannot be explained by elections.

"The Armenian leadership, in general, is not interested in resolving the conflict," he added.

Azerbaijan has banned the use of the airspace of Nagorno-Karabakh occupied by Armenia, as no one can guarantee a safe air corridor in the area, the head of the Azerbaijani Civil Aviation Administration, Arif Mammadov, said earlier.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European Civil Aviation Conference (ICAC) also support the position of Azerbaijan on this issue.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions regarding the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.