Political scientist: Kapan Airport - new provocation slowing down normalization of Baku-Yerevan relations

Opening of Kapan Airport is an extremely provocative and problematic act from the Armenian government, particularly at this delicate stage in the peace talks. Any Armenian planes taking off so close to the border will inevitably infringe on Azerbaijani airspace, British political scientist and journalist Neil Watson told Report.

“Armenia should certainly have consulted with Azerbaijan regarding this, perhaps via such an intermediary as Eurocontrol, who administer the fees for Azal flights over Armenian airspace for flights to Nakhchivan. Also, there are concerns that the Armenian planes could be used for military purposes, posing a direct threat to the liberated territory of Zangilan. It should be noted that Azerbaijan constructed the airport in Zangilan some distance from the border to avoid any possibility of violating Armenian airspace,” he said.

“It is impossible to estimate the negative impact on the peace talks. Once again it should be reiterated that Armenia never works alone - this action has clearly been approved by Russia and Iran, and probably financed by the international Armenian diaspora. I do not honestly believe that flights will commence, however. Pashinyan ultimately knows that a peace deal needs to be signed. But allowing such construction to take place has been taken to placate factions in his country, the diaspora and other nations. It reiterates again his ineffectiveness as a leader and that is a cause for concern,” he added.