Statement of the Interstate Aviation Committee

         The Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) is expressing deep concern in relation to the safety of aircraft performing international flight operations, their flight crews and passengers, as well as of ground civil objects in connection with the armed conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh with the use of missiles and other kinds of armament.

         IAC has earlier repeatedly submitted to the international organizations, including ICAO and IATA, the initiatives and measures aimed at prevention of downing or damage of civil aircraft, vital civil aviation infrastructure as a result of military actions, including those in active or potential conflict zones. IAC supports the documents, adopted by ICAO, related to the necessity of evaluating risk factors for the civil aircraft flights over the conflict zones and/or near them.

         Air Traffic Control bodies (ATC) and air navigation service providers have taken certain actions, including the introduction of zonal restrictions of international flights. However, the concern is that these measures are not sufficient to completely prevent potential threats to flight safety and human life.

        In this regard, IAC is proposing to do the following as soon as possible:

         - to adopt a set of measures aimed at the unconditional implementation of international law and the complete prevention of the shooting down of civil aircraft by air defense systems, as well as the destruction of civil objects and airports by missiles and other means of destruction, considering the tactical and technical characteristics of weapons in the conflict zone;

         - ATC and air navigation service providers shall ensure coordination and interaction with the Ministries of Defense, including the issuance of the relevant NOTAMs and AIPs to ensure safety in the areas of international flights;

         - airlines flying through the South Caucasus region should assess the risk factors for ensuring the safety of civil aircraft operations over and/or near conflict zones and strictly monitor and comply with NOTAM and AIP notifications in order to avoid risk areas;

         - to establish within the framework of ICAO a permanent body, formed by representatives of the concerned states and international organizations, for the timely response to emerging conflict situations that pose a threat to civil aviation aircraft, as well as for monitoring the proper implementation of ICAO recommendations and decisions in the field of civil aviation safety and aviation security in general.

The IAC expresses hope that the actions of governments, civil aviation authorities and air transport operators will ensure the safety of civil aviation, compliance with international standards and the provisions of the ICAO Chicago Convention and, most importantly, the safety of people.