Today.Az » Politics » Situation around Baku-Tel Aviv flight cleared up
07 August 2009 [10:38] - Today.Az
Closing direct flights between Israel and Azerbaijan has been removed from agenda for the time being.
On August 5, Azerbaijan Airways (AZAL) received permission from Israel’s civil aviation administration to operate flights till September 21.
On August 4, head of AZAL representative office in Israel Irmik Abayev sent a letter to deputy director of Israel’s civil aviation administration under Transport Ministry Avi Ben Hur. Abayev said in a letter that he believes Israeli transport ministry’s decision is unfair and harms ties between the two countries.
On August 5, Abayev received a reply message which said that the civil aviation administration extended authorization for AZAL till September 21 to operate direct Baku – Tel Aviv flight. “We hope that AZAL help us to address issues of security for the Arkia company” Ben-Hur said.
In an interview with the portal IzRus, Abayev said the previous decision by the civil aviation administration harmed primarily passengers. “In my letter to Avi Ben-Hur, I noted that cancellation of flights harms relations between the two aviation agencies. This is very unfair to AZAL and the passengers,” Abayev said.
“I am pleased that Mr. Ben-Hur and the Ministry of Transport respected our request. I hope that till September 21 the misunderstanding will be resolved and direct flights between Baku and Tel Aviv continue.”
Earlier, Avi Ben-Hur said security measures taken by Azerbaijani were inadequate. He said under the principle of parity (reciprocity), Azerbaijan Airlines will not be able to continue its flights to Tel Aviv. In turn, AZAL Aviation Safety Department Director Fakhraddin Gazibayov explained portal IzRus that Baku can not accept the presence of armed Israelis in its territory and authorities have not issued permission to security guards of El Alja (which provides security services to Arkia) to carry weapons.
/IzRus/
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