DThe EU’s pressure on non-European airlines not to participate in the smuggling of migrants is having an impact. On Friday, the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority announced that air tickets from Turkey to Belarus would no longer be sold to citizens of Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Citizens of these countries are no longer allowed to board a plane to Belarus. This applies not only to Turkish Airlines, but also to Belavia.The authorities proved illegal entry from Belarus European UnionThe decision remains valid until it is revoked.
Vice Chairman European Commission Margaritis Schinas welcomed Turkey’s decision and announced that other companies would follow suit. “Our efforts are now bearing fruit,” Sinos said in Beirut on Friday. “We are experiencing changes.” After meeting with key Lebanese politicians, Cinas said that he had received “guarantees” of cooperation with the European Union. 1.5 million Syrian refugees live in the country. In the past few weeks, hundreds of them flew to Minsk via Moscow on Aeroflot.
“Impressed by the preparations of the United Arab Emirates”
Schinas was also impressed by the “United Arab Emirates’ willingness to work with us to end these practices.” He visited the UAE on Thursday and talked with representatives of the UAE states there. Its low-cost subsidiary FlyDubai recently flew daily from Dubai to Minsk.Chairman of the Shinas Representative Committee Ursula von Delane On the way, on Monday threatened to sanction the airlines involved in smuggling, she talked about the “blacklist.”
Beirut’s vice president said: “We must establish an international coalition against the use of people as bargaining chips,” but in view of the talks, he believes that the committee does not have to use its “powerful tools”. The European Commission also stated that airlines are worried about their reputation and their land rights in Europe. European UnionAs a market, it is much more important than Belarus.
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Previously, in response to this news, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Turkish Airlines Possibly one of the airlines that may be affected by the new sanctions against Belarus, Ankara rejects any attempt to portray Turkey as “part of the problem” that has nothing to do with it. However, Turkey is willing to provide any form of support to solve these problems.
Engaged with Ankara at multiple levels, including the President of the Security Council Charles MichelUnlike EU countries, Turkey does not require a transit visa for transit; in the past, there were at least three flights a day between Istanbul and Minsk. As only a few airlines leave Minsk, Belarusian citizens mainly fly to Europe through the Istanbul hub. These connections continued even in months when there were hardly any international flights, working with Belavia (via code sharing) on the Belarusian route to remove all landing and overflight rights in the European Union from this route.
The EU is reaching its political limits
However, with the diplomatic offensive, the EU has also reached its political limits. So it did not affect the influence of Damascus. Cham Wing Airlines is a small private company owned and operated by the cousin of ruler Bashar al-Assad. EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell told the European Parliament this week that the three-aircraft route has so far been used to transport mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner company. A plausible job, flying back and forth between Damascus and Belarus twenty times a week by making one plane.” He added: “She sold all the tickets for the next few flights.”
In parallel with its diplomatic efforts, the EU is advancing the expansion of its sanctions regime against Belarus to include smuggling activities and the instrumentalization of immigration. The diplomats confirmed that the EU foreign ministers will pass the necessary legal actions when they meet in Brussels on Monday. In the next step, there should be more lists. About thirty individuals and entities are currently being discussed for this.
According to FAZ’s information, this includes Belarusian Foreign Minister Urazmir Makgi, because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for issuing visas to immigrants who are lured into the country. Belavia Airlines will also be listed; then all commercial activities with the company will be banned, including aircraft leasing. The sanctions are being closely coordinated with the United States and are expected to take effect in early December.
