Russia says no compromise in EU air traffic talks
Date: 31-Jan-02
Country: RUSSIA
Author: Karl Emerick Hanuska and Robert Eksuzyan
Russian Transport Minister Sergei Frank warned that unless a compromise was reached on Stage 3 requirements, which are set to be introduced on April 1, the country was prepared to retaliate with restrictions on flights from European Union (EU) states.
"(Russia) does not want to carry out discussions in the language of mutual threats," Russia's Prime Tass news agency quoted Frank as saying after talks with EU officials in Brussels. Frank said more talks would be held, but gave no date.
"But if European Union restrictions on Russian aircraft lead to a sharp imbalance in flights with EU countries we will have to pursue state-imposed controls to restore the balance."
According to the State Civil Aviation Service, Stage 3 would force Russia to cancel 11,000 flights in 2002 and cut annual passenger turnover by three million, or around 12 percent.
The vast bulk of Russia's ageing civilian fleet was built well before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and little money is available to upgrade planes to tighter requirements.
Aeroflot and other top carriers have added Airbus and Boeing jets in recent years and carry out most flights on compliant aircraft. But many Russian carriers, particularly those making charter flights to Europe, use old Soviet-built aircraft, such as Ilyushins and Tupolevs.
Industry leaders have warned that it would not just be Russians on cheap holidays who would suffer if restrictions were imposed. The country's cargo industry could also be pushed to a near collapse, they have said.
Alexander Morozov, head of the Transport Ministry's international department, said there were hopes for a compromise to give Russia up to four years to meet tighter EU standards.
"Hope dies last. All we really need is three to four years to renovate our fleet... Now up to 80 percent of our planes do not confirm with the new restrictions," he told Reuters.
"We are set to put new engines on Il-76s (Ilyushin Il-76), to replace Tu-154s with (newly-built) Tu-204s and carry out other upgrades of all fleet. For all this we need time."
Itar-Tass reported that EU officials were refusing to exempt Russia from Stage 3, but a compromise could entail letting each EU member country negotiate a temporary reprieve.
An official with one major Russian cargo carrier said there might not be enough time to hold such talks before an April 1 deadline. "This decision has to be made now and not put off in any manner," he said.
