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Businessweek / Bloomberg
Oct 15 2012
Turkey Clears Syria-Bound Armenian Plane After Cargo Search
By Selcan Hacaoglu on October 15, 2012
Turkey allowed a Syria bound cargo plane from Armenia to resume its
journey after it landed in eastern Turkey for a search today to make
sure it only carried humanitarian aid and not weapons.
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said authorities had verified
Armenia's statement that the plane carried relief supplies to Aleppo,
Syria, the state-run Anatolia agency said.
The landing of the plane in the eastern city of Erzurum came a week
after Turkey grounded and searched a Syrian plane that took off from
Russia, and confiscated some of its cargo saying it contained military
supplies destined for President Bashar al-Assad's government. Turkey
has backed the rebels who have been fighting to end Assad's rule since
March last year, and says it won't turn a blind eye to arms shipments
to Syria.
Arinc said the search of the Armenian plane shows that Turkey is
`serious' in monitoring shipments to Syria.
The plane was carrying aid and the stop in Turkey was planned, Tigran
Balayan, a spokesman for Armenia's Foreign Ministry, said in an
e-mailed response to questions. Turkey permitted the flight on
condition it would carry out the search.
Armenia requested flight permission for the Air Armenia plane from
Turkey on Oct. 10, when Turkey grounded the Syrian plane, Anatolia
said. The Antonov-12 was carrying 14 tons of food supplies including
sunflower oil, rice and sugar from Yerevan to Aleppo, Anatolia said.
Aiding Rebels
Tensions between Turkey and Syria, once allies, have escalated since a
shell fired from Syria landed in a Turkish border town earlier this
month, killing five people. In June, a Turkish plane was shot down by
Syrian forces in the east Mediterranean. Turkey has deployed
additional troops and weapons to the border with Syria.
More than 30,000 people have been killed as Assad's government fights
the uprising in Syria, according to pro- opposition rights groups.
Syria has accused Turkey, along with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, of
helping the rebels obtain arms and money.
Turkey is hosting more than 100,000 Syrian refugees, including
defected soldiers, and has allowed rebel military forces to operate
from Turkish bases.
Turkey allows humanitarian and commercial flights to and from Armenia
even though the countries do not have diplomatic ties. Turkey closed
its border with Armenia in 1993 to protest Armenia's war with
Azerbaijan, and insists on withdrawal of Armenian troops from the
Armenian-occupied enclave Nagorno- Karabakh in Azerbaijan before it
will reopen the border.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-15/turkey-searches-syria-bound-plane-that-took-off-from-armenia
Oct 15 2012
Turkey Clears Syria-Bound Armenian Plane After Cargo Search
By Selcan Hacaoglu on October 15, 2012
Turkey allowed a Syria bound cargo plane from Armenia to resume its
journey after it landed in eastern Turkey for a search today to make
sure it only carried humanitarian aid and not weapons.
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said authorities had verified
Armenia's statement that the plane carried relief supplies to Aleppo,
Syria, the state-run Anatolia agency said.
The landing of the plane in the eastern city of Erzurum came a week
after Turkey grounded and searched a Syrian plane that took off from
Russia, and confiscated some of its cargo saying it contained military
supplies destined for President Bashar al-Assad's government. Turkey
has backed the rebels who have been fighting to end Assad's rule since
March last year, and says it won't turn a blind eye to arms shipments
to Syria.
Arinc said the search of the Armenian plane shows that Turkey is
`serious' in monitoring shipments to Syria.
The plane was carrying aid and the stop in Turkey was planned, Tigran
Balayan, a spokesman for Armenia's Foreign Ministry, said in an
e-mailed response to questions. Turkey permitted the flight on
condition it would carry out the search.
Armenia requested flight permission for the Air Armenia plane from
Turkey on Oct. 10, when Turkey grounded the Syrian plane, Anatolia
said. The Antonov-12 was carrying 14 tons of food supplies including
sunflower oil, rice and sugar from Yerevan to Aleppo, Anatolia said.
Aiding Rebels
Tensions between Turkey and Syria, once allies, have escalated since a
shell fired from Syria landed in a Turkish border town earlier this
month, killing five people. In June, a Turkish plane was shot down by
Syrian forces in the east Mediterranean. Turkey has deployed
additional troops and weapons to the border with Syria.
More than 30,000 people have been killed as Assad's government fights
the uprising in Syria, according to pro- opposition rights groups.
Syria has accused Turkey, along with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, of
helping the rebels obtain arms and money.
Turkey is hosting more than 100,000 Syrian refugees, including
defected soldiers, and has allowed rebel military forces to operate
from Turkish bases.
Turkey allows humanitarian and commercial flights to and from Armenia
even though the countries do not have diplomatic ties. Turkey closed
its border with Armenia in 1993 to protest Armenia's war with
Azerbaijan, and insists on withdrawal of Armenian troops from the
Armenian-occupied enclave Nagorno- Karabakh in Azerbaijan before it
will reopen the border.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-15/turkey-searches-syria-bound-plane-that-took-off-from-armenia