MESOP NEWS : “THE USUAL PROCEDURE” – Kurdistan’s Airports in Normal Operation So Far: Minister

Basnews English – 29/09/2017 – 14:53 – ERBIL — The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has stated that flights from and to its international airports have not been suspended so far.

“I have spoken to Iraqi Minister of Transportation who said they have not yet made any decision to halt the flights to and from Kurdistan Region,” said Mawlood Bawamurad, KRG’s Minister of Transportation on Friday morning.“The flights cannot be so easily suspended due to the fact that airliners do not accept it,” Bawamurad stated.He also said that the border crossings between Kurdistan Region, Turkey and Iran are still in normal operation.The Iraqi government previously gave Erbil an ultimatum to hand over the control of its airports and border crossings to Baghdad until Friday, or it will impose sanctions on the Kurdish Region completely. However, the Kurdish minister believes that the threats “are basically political statements” made as a reaction to Monday’s independence referendum in the Kurdistan Region. www.mesop.de