Turkish Envoy Says Termination of Turkish Airlines’ Flights Groundless

(Tbilisi. April 7, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Turkish ambassador in Georgia Dicle Kopuz said today that there is no legal base for termination of the Turkish Airlines’ flights.

From March 30 the Turkish Airlines had to reduce flights between Istanbul and Tbilisi from three to two in week after the decision of the Georgian Civil Aviation Administration. After April 15 the company’s flight rights will be terminated. British Mediterranean Airways, a franchise partner of the British Airways is in a similar situation.
 
The decision of the Civil Aviation Administration builds on the Parliamentary decision of February 27, which instructed the Administration to “suspend the temporary flight licenses [for the British Mediterranean and Turkish Airlines].”

The Parliament explains that an “Air Transportation Agreement” was signed with Turkey in 1992. But the document was not submitted for the parliamentary ratification to legally enter into force. Thus the decision says, “Tax breaks, enjoyed by the British and Turkish air companies lack legal grounds”.

“The article 22 of the [Air Transportation] Agreement considers entry of the document into force as the date of exchange of diplomatic Notes notifying the fulfillment of the ratification procedure. Georgian Side notified the Turkish Side concerning the fulfillment of the Article 22 of the Agreement (entry into force), with the diplomatic Note dated November 23, 1993. Turkish Side completed the ratification in 1994,” Turkish ambassador Dicle Kopuz said today at the meeting with the representatives of the local media sources.

She explained that the Constitution of Georgia, which was in force before 1995 did not consider ratification of this agreement by the Parliament. But new Constitution of Georgia adopted in 1995 considers ratification of this kind of documents. 

Dicle Kopuz also said that the representatives of the Turkish Airlines will arrive in Georgia on April 10 to hold talks with the Georgian authorities regarding the issue.
 
She said that the decision to terminate Turkish Airlines’ flights does not correspond constructive bilateral relations between Georgia and Turkey.

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