Belarus Transport Ministry says EU may impose additional restrictions on Belarusian aviation industry

<p> MINSK, Nov 3 - PrimePress. The Ministry of Transport and Communications of Belarus finds it possible that the European Union (EU) may impose additional restrictions on the Belarusian aviation industry on the grounds of the migration crisis at the EU borders. Director of the Aviation Department of Belarus’ Transport and Communications Ministry Artyom Sikorsky made a statement to this effect at a press conference on 3 November. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “A new threat has emerged that allegedly originates in Belarus – the migration crisis. We’ve repeatedly stated we cannot be blamed for the migration crisis and consequences should be looked for somewhere else but Minsk.” In his words, as it has been stated repeatedly, the Belarusian flags carrier Belavia has never participated in any organized transportation of migrants. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Among the new possible sanctions is a ban on leasing new aircraft to Belavia. “This issue is becoming real because we see that (sanctions – editor’s note) pressure does not stop and is taking more sophisticated forms... This will be a challenge not only for Belarus, but for the entire aviation leasing market, such companies are registered mostly in Ireland,” Sikorsky said. </p> <p>   </p> <p> According to him, the Belarusian side urges its European partners to engage in dialogue without emotions and hasty actions. “Well, if there American planes become unavailable, there will be Russian, Russian-Chinese projects that are being implemented now,” he said. Sikorsky stressed that if the decision to limit leasing is made, “it will be a signal to the entire market that tomorrow you may have the planes taken away from you for political reasons”. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Besides, Sikorsky referred to the prospects of the possible disconnection of the Belarusian air traffic control enterprise Belaeronavigatsia from the European database. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “The problem does exist now. We are in a dialogue with European partners. We are told they have received a political command totally unrelated to our cooperation. It is possibly the most unpleasant part when aviation is used as a tool of unfair competition and pressure,” said Sikorsky. </p> <p>   </p> <p> According to him, "for this action there is a counteraction”. “We will offer companies to work directly through Belaeronavigatsia. If we used to work through our European partners, now it will be direct work through Belaeronavigatsia. Nothing will change significantly for the airlines,” he said. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Sikorsky pointed out that previously, before the restrictions, about 25% of the air traffic through Belarus was generated by European companies. “But by increasing flights from the eastern and southern vectors, we are able to maintain the profitability of Belaeronavigatsia at a certain high level,” he said. </p> <p>   </p> <p> As previously reported, the European Union imposed sanctions against major sectors of the Belarusian economy since 25 June 2021, and on 9 August the US, the UK and Canada imposed sectoral sanctions. The sanctions targeted several Belarusian companies including the Belarusian air traffic control enterprise Belaeronavigatsia. Earlier, the EU imposed three more parcels of sanctions, which it justified by the escalation of human rights violations in Belarus after the August 2020 presidential election. The overall sanctions list includes 166 individuals and 15 organizations and companies. A fifth package of sanctions against Belarus in connection with the migration crisis at the EU border is the pipeline. End </p>

2021-11-04

Primepress