The national airline in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan Tuesday welcomed signs that the United Nations may be willing to relax sanctions against the troubled carrier.
The chief of state-run Ariana Afghan Airlines said the sanctions, blocking the airline from international flights and freezing its overseas accounts, were endangering domestic passengers and crew.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan Monday suggested the Security Council allow the airline to address maintenance problems and grant supervised access to assets for approved maintenance work and crew training.
"We are indeed happy," said Ariana chief Mullah Hamidullah.
"To say the truth is a difficult matter, but he has realized the reality and that is good. We thank him."
The airline has three Boeing 727s and five Russian Antonov 24s in its fleet.
"We are facing lots of problems -- if these sanctions continue our domestic flights may halt," Hamidullah said.
"If the planes are grounded they may break down and it's necessary for the pilots to fly in order to not lose their skills."
The sanctions, which include an arms embargo and travel restrictions against leaders of the fundamentalist Islamic militia, took effect in January.
They are designed to punish the Taliban for refusing to hand over Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, who is wanted in the United States for allegedly plotting the twin US embassy bombings in East Africa in 1998 which killed 220 people -- KABUL (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
