Europe Sending Liaison Officer
Monday, 03 March, 2008 | 17:02 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The European Union (EU) Commission is sending a liaison officer who will bridge communication with the Indonesian government as regards the ban on Indonesian airlines from flying to Europe.

The effort is expected to be able to accelerate the lifting of the ban.

Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal said the officer was to come last Saturday (1/3).

“His name is Ambrosini,” he said in Jakarta, Friday (29/2).

The EU Commission has scheduled an evaluation of the ban this month.

As already reported, Europe decided to ban Indonesian and other countries’ airlines from flying to Europe as from July 28, 2007.

This was because Europe believed there were still problems in flight safety aspects in Indonesia.

Jusman said that from the aspect of internal bureaucracy, EU was experiencing difficulties as regards lifting the ban.

The reason for this is that the lifting of the ban must be acclaimed by 27 of its country members.

“Plus Kosovo in the future,” said Jusman.

The next flight ban evaluation is scheduled to be this month.

Indonesia has already proposed that four airlines be included in the express lane of the lifting of flight ban.

These are Garuda Indonesia and Mandala Airlines as well as two charter airlines, Premi Air and Airfast.

In addition, the civil aviation authorities of Indonesia and the Netherlands have signed a cooperation agreement in aviation.

As regards the request of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) that Indonesian airlines apply the IATA Operation Safety Audit (IOSA), Jusman said the government will not yet compel Indonesian airlines to do so.

Harun Mahbub