TURKISH AIRLINES TO LAUNCH CHARTER FLIGHTS TO ARMENIA
Xinhua General News Service
November 24, 2008 Monday 10:10 AM EST
Turkey’s national airline is preparing to launch charter flights
to the Armenian capital, in a move to contribute to the recent thaw
in bilateral relations between Armenia and Turkey, local newspaper
Turkish Daily News reported on Monday.
Turkish Airlines (THY) recently sent letters to both the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (SHGM) and the Foreign Ministry, asking for
permission to launch charter flights from Armenian capital city of
Yerevan to Turkey’s biggest city of Istanbul and the Mediterranean
coastal city of Antalya.
The approval will be made in the coming days by the Foreign Ministry
on condition that the charter flights to Armenia comply with the
Turkey’s national interests, said the report.
Currently, Atlasjet, a private Turkish airline company, has been
conducting charter flights between Istanbul and Yerevan, said the
report.
Turkey severed its ties with Armenia and closed its border
with the landlocked country in 1993 as a sign of solidarity with
Azerbaijan. There have been no formal ties between the two countries
since then.
However, Turkish President Abdullah Gul broke the ice when he visited
Yerevan in early September this year. While trying to re- establish
relations at the official level through meetings, Turkey has been
also making certain gestures that it would eventually normalize ties
with the neighbor.
As Turkey’s national airline, THY plays an important role in
Turkey’s foreign policy, said the report, adding that by launching
new flights to Armenia, the THY would contribute to the thaw in
bilateral relations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
