BlackRain
02-06-2006, 03:15 PM
Iran Air Defies UN Threats
By Pouneh Qeisardehi
Managing Director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Airlines (Iran Air) Saeed Hesami here Monday defied threats of UN sanctions, saying domestic capabilities will be enough to minimize their impacts on the aviation fleet.
“Though we will inevitably incur higher maintenance costs in running our system efficiently in case of more sanctions, domestic capabilities will help reduce the adverse consequences on the aviation industry to a minimum,“ he said at a press conference on Monday.
http://www.iran-daily.com/1384/2495/html/044172.jpg
Hesami disclosed that a ’sanctions committee’ had been established at the Foreign Ministry while the Presidential Office is to assess the situation and devise contingency plans should Iran come under further sanctions.
The International Atomic Energy Agency on Saturday voted to report Iran’s nuclear case to the United Nations Security Council, raising the chances for the country to face further sanctions. Iran has been under unilateral US sanctions for more than two decades, banning it from purchasing aircraft or parts from Western manufacturers.
“We are of course aware that further sanctions could make conditions harder for us. However, Iran Air has the engineering and technical skills at its disposal to lessen the adverse impact of sanctions.“
Hesami said that the people are the actual victims of sanctions.
“Governments which claim to be advocates of human rights and are pursuing further sanctions against us should know that the real victims are ordinary citizens,“ he said, stressing that airlines should not be made to suffer because of political rows between governments.
“We are not after using the fleet for military purposes but only want to transport people.“
The top Iran Air official reiterated remarks by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Motakki that Iran will not let IAEA vote impact its foreign economic and trade relations, saying agreements for purchase of aircraft will continue to be in place.
Hesami advised the press against using the word ’dilapidated’ in describing Iran’s aviation fleet, saying just because production date of a plane goes 20 years back does not mean it is rundown if it undergoes regular inspections in line with international aviation regulations.
“Aircraft owned by Iran Air undergo regular technical inspections and Iran’s aviation fleet is amongst the safest in the world,“ he declared.
To back up his remarks, Hesami said the rate of air incidents (crashes leading to death) in Iran is 0.77 per one million flights which is lower that the global average of 0.85 per one million.
Most plane disasters in Iran involved military aircraft and therefore not included in the estimate.“
He rejected reports that plane fares will increase at the start of the new year on March 21.
By Pouneh Qeisardehi
Managing Director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Airlines (Iran Air) Saeed Hesami here Monday defied threats of UN sanctions, saying domestic capabilities will be enough to minimize their impacts on the aviation fleet.
“Though we will inevitably incur higher maintenance costs in running our system efficiently in case of more sanctions, domestic capabilities will help reduce the adverse consequences on the aviation industry to a minimum,“ he said at a press conference on Monday.
http://www.iran-daily.com/1384/2495/html/044172.jpg
Hesami disclosed that a ’sanctions committee’ had been established at the Foreign Ministry while the Presidential Office is to assess the situation and devise contingency plans should Iran come under further sanctions.
The International Atomic Energy Agency on Saturday voted to report Iran’s nuclear case to the United Nations Security Council, raising the chances for the country to face further sanctions. Iran has been under unilateral US sanctions for more than two decades, banning it from purchasing aircraft or parts from Western manufacturers.
“We are of course aware that further sanctions could make conditions harder for us. However, Iran Air has the engineering and technical skills at its disposal to lessen the adverse impact of sanctions.“
Hesami said that the people are the actual victims of sanctions.
“Governments which claim to be advocates of human rights and are pursuing further sanctions against us should know that the real victims are ordinary citizens,“ he said, stressing that airlines should not be made to suffer because of political rows between governments.
“We are not after using the fleet for military purposes but only want to transport people.“
The top Iran Air official reiterated remarks by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Motakki that Iran will not let IAEA vote impact its foreign economic and trade relations, saying agreements for purchase of aircraft will continue to be in place.
Hesami advised the press against using the word ’dilapidated’ in describing Iran’s aviation fleet, saying just because production date of a plane goes 20 years back does not mean it is rundown if it undergoes regular inspections in line with international aviation regulations.
“Aircraft owned by Iran Air undergo regular technical inspections and Iran’s aviation fleet is amongst the safest in the world,“ he declared.
To back up his remarks, Hesami said the rate of air incidents (crashes leading to death) in Iran is 0.77 per one million flights which is lower that the global average of 0.85 per one million.
Most plane disasters in Iran involved military aircraft and therefore not included in the estimate.“
He rejected reports that plane fares will increase at the start of the new year on March 21.