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Indonesia asks Saudi Arabia to audit airlines |
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14:40, July 18, 2007 |
The Indonesian government has invited Saudi Arabia to audit the safety standards of Indonesian airlines following its announcement of plans to adopt a European Union ban on all Indonesian airlines.
"Saudi Arabia wants assurance that the kingdom is doing the right thing by adopting the EU ban," Transportation Ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan was quoted Wednesday by English daily The Jakarta Post as saying.
"To convince them (otherwise), we have invited Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to do their own audit here".
The Transportation Ministry received Monday a letter from the GACA stating that the kingdom planned to adopt the EU ban, and not that it had already banned all Indonesian airlines from entering Saudi Arabia.
Bambang also said that Saudi Arabia has frequently used EU decisions as reference, but that "didn't mean (they adopted) all of the EU's policies".
The ban on all Indonesian airlines from entering EU territory took effect on July 6 even though no Indonesian airline currently serves European routes.
Garuda Indonesia spokesman Pujobroto said the flag carrier supported the government's plan.
"What they want is to have a dialogue and clarify with the Indonesian government about the safety of Indonesian airlines".
Garuda Indonesia is the only Indonesian airline with routes to Saudi Arabia. Pudjobroto said the airline flies to Jeddah five times a week and to Riyadh three times a week.
Source: Xinhua
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