ID :
185772
Wed, 06/01/2011 - 09:19
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/185772
The shortlink copeid
Envoy Cites Technical Problems Cause of Merkel's Flight Delay
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Islamic Republic of Iran's envoy to Berlin said a technical problem which caused a misunderstanding between the pilot of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Iran's air controllers caused the delay in giving permission to Merkel's plane to enter Iranian airspace.
Merkel's plane was flying to India on Tuesday but had to circle over Turkey for about two hours before it was allowed to enter Iranian airspace.
"Merkel's plane, along with two other planes, was flying to India. The two planes flew over Iran but the plane carrying the Chancellor was not given permission because of problems in giving 'call sign' to the air controllers by the pilots," Ambassador Alireza Sheikh-Attar told the Islamic republic news agency in Berlin.
"Around 2:30 Tuesday morning, political director general in Germany's Ministry of Foreign Affaires contacted me and after my contact with Tehran, the problem was solved in 20 minutes and the plane entered Iran's airspace," said Sheikh-Attar.
Stressing that the German diplomat appreciated Iran's efforts in this regard, the ambassador criticized certain media which tried to politicize the issue adding that political problems are solved through political channels and flights are not tools for political squabbles.
"If German officials had informed us earlier, we would have solved it sooner, " said the ambassador.
On his presence in Germany's Foreign Ministry, Sheikh-Attar said he provided them with technical explanations he had received from Iran's aviation officials and complained that the issue was technical and had occurred many times in many countries including Germany.
"This is a common incident in private flights and there is no reason to make it so complicated and political," said the ambassador.
On German media assertions that Turkey had mediated to solve the problem, Sheikh-Attar said that he was not aware of the news but he knew that Turkish officials had no contact with Iran's embassy or Iran's Foreign Ministry.
Stressing that the issue was a technical problem, the ambassador said those who want to politicize it do not have good intentions.
"Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its policies in a transparent and clear way and if needed, does everything through legal and diplomatic procedures," said the ambassador.
"Iran is a strong country and does not need to resort to such trivial matters to express its political stance," concluded the ambassador.
Merkel's plane was flying to India on Tuesday but had to circle over Turkey for about two hours before it was allowed to enter Iranian airspace.
"Merkel's plane, along with two other planes, was flying to India. The two planes flew over Iran but the plane carrying the Chancellor was not given permission because of problems in giving 'call sign' to the air controllers by the pilots," Ambassador Alireza Sheikh-Attar told the Islamic republic news agency in Berlin.
"Around 2:30 Tuesday morning, political director general in Germany's Ministry of Foreign Affaires contacted me and after my contact with Tehran, the problem was solved in 20 minutes and the plane entered Iran's airspace," said Sheikh-Attar.
Stressing that the German diplomat appreciated Iran's efforts in this regard, the ambassador criticized certain media which tried to politicize the issue adding that political problems are solved through political channels and flights are not tools for political squabbles.
"If German officials had informed us earlier, we would have solved it sooner, " said the ambassador.
On his presence in Germany's Foreign Ministry, Sheikh-Attar said he provided them with technical explanations he had received from Iran's aviation officials and complained that the issue was technical and had occurred many times in many countries including Germany.
"This is a common incident in private flights and there is no reason to make it so complicated and political," said the ambassador.
On German media assertions that Turkey had mediated to solve the problem, Sheikh-Attar said that he was not aware of the news but he knew that Turkish officials had no contact with Iran's embassy or Iran's Foreign Ministry.
Stressing that the issue was a technical problem, the ambassador said those who want to politicize it do not have good intentions.
"Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its policies in a transparent and clear way and if needed, does everything through legal and diplomatic procedures," said the ambassador.
"Iran is a strong country and does not need to resort to such trivial matters to express its political stance," concluded the ambassador.
