Qatar’s Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) denied what has been reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that the four blockading countries have dedicated emergency air routes for Qatari aircraft.
The Ministry and the CAA said that it is untrue the reports by the SPA about dedicating emergency air routes for Qatari aircraft in the airspace of the blockade countries. The Ministry confirmed that those countries have issued no navigation announcements as followed at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and call upon the blockade countries to not leak such incorrect news before the ICAO Council’s extraordinary session, scheduled for today in Montreal, Canada.
SPA reported yesterday, citing a statement from the Saudi aviation authority (GACA), that the siege countries would allow Qatari planes to use air corridors in emergencies. “Nine corridors have been identified including one in international air space over the Mediterranean sea that will be monitored by the Egyptian authorities,” the report said. International aviation organisations have been informed, it said, adding that the corridors will be open from tomorrow.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), held special hearings at Qatar’s request to discuss reopening Gulf airspace. ICAO’s 36-state governing council could act to settle the overflights row presented by Qatar.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of siege countries who met yesterday in Bahraini capital Manama said they were open to talks with Qatar to ease the dispute if Doha agrees to certain demands.
“The four countries are ready for dialogue with Qatar with the condition that it announces its sincere willingness to stop funding terrorism and extremism and its commitment to not interfere in other countries’ foreign affairs and respond to the 13 demands,” Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said after meeting his counterparts.
