Indonesian Airline Flight Ban to EU to be discussed in July
Wednesday, 05 March, 2008 | 19:02 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The European Union will discuss its decision about lifting its flight ban on Indonesia airline at the commission meeting next July.

They are still waiting for reports by European consultants working on the Indonesiab-European Union Partnership for Aviation Safety.

One of their consultants, Jean Pierre Ambrosini, has had an initial meeting with Indonesian Minister of Transportation, Jusman Syafii Djamal, at office of the Department of Transportation today (5/3).

Also present at the meeting were the ad-interim Ambassador of European Union for Indonesia, Pierre Philips, and Head of the EU Trade Section, Andrean Julin.

In fact, the next scheduled European commission meeting to be attended by its 27 member countries is on April17.
Jusman acknowledged that he had already proposed this schedule to Ambrosini

“However, he (Ambrosini) said it was impossible because the consultants have only just started their work,” said Jusman after the meeting.

Ambrosini’s recommendation should be submitted at least two weeks before the commission meeting.
Jusman explained that Ambrosini will work in Indonesia for six months.

He will collect evidence for the recommendation to evaluate the flight ban on Indonesian airlines.

The results will be reported to the 27 member countries of European Union.

“It is kind of bridge to speed up the process”, Jusman said in Jakarta today.

Harun Mahbub