The only airport in Nagorno-Karabakh restarts operation

Currently, the Armenian Airline "Armavia" negotiates organization of flights between the capitals of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. This was stated by Norair Belluyan, Director General of the Airline, at the opening of the Yerevan-Tbilisi flight on March 13.

According to Mr Belluyan, active negotiations are underway towards this end. "The airport of Stepanakert is being restored. I can't tell dates, but the sooner the better," he said.

A number of issues related to restart of the Stepanakert airport were discussed on March 4 at the meeting of Nagorno-Karabakh President Bako Saakyan with a delegation from the central civil aviation administrative board at the government of Armenia. The President has assured that the authorities of Karabakh will render all-round assistance in implementing the project, which is strategically important for Karabakh.

The only airport in Karabakh was closed in 1992, at the peak of Karabakh-Azerbaijan military confrontation. For 17 years already Karabakh is deprived of any air communication with the outer world because there is no peace treaty with Azerbaijan. The railway is also blocked, and the only exit from Karabakh is the highway Stepanakert-Yerevan.