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Moscow slams closure of airspace to Bolivia president's aircraft
July 4, 2013 - 17:50 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Moscow on Thursday, July 4 criticized the closure of
airspace by several European states to a Bolivian presidential
aircraft en route from Russia on Tuesday, forcing it to land in
Vienna, RIA Novosti reported.
The aircraft carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales had been in the
air for over three hours after taking off from Moscow on Tuesday, when
France, Spain and Portugal announced the closure of their airspace to
it. The plane landed in the Austrian capital Vienna, but was later
allowed to fly on to Bolivia.
`The steps undertaken by France, Spain and Portugal can be hardly
described as friendly in regard to Bolivia as well as to Russia, from
where Morales was flying after visiting Moscow,' the Russian Foreign
Ministry said in a statement.
`Moreover, the refusal to grant airspace passage rights for the
aircraft could have created a threat to passengers on board the plane,
including the head of a sovereign state,' the ministry added.
The aircraft was reportedly searched in a `voluntary inspection' while
in Vienna, Deputy Chancellor Michael Spindelegger said on Wednesday,
apparently on suspicion it might have fugitive US intelligence
contractor Edward Snowden on board. The Bolivian Defense Minister
later denied reports that the plane was searched.
Snowden, a former contractor for the US National Security Agency, is
wanted by the United States for disclosing a top-secret surveillance
program. He is now reportedly in the transit section of Moscow's
Sheremetyevo airport.
Bolivia accused France, Italy, Spain and Portugal of violating
international law by closing their airspace to the presidential
aircraft, and said the United States instigated the action by the
nations involved.
The United States has not commented on the accusation.
July 4, 2013 - 17:50 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Moscow on Thursday, July 4 criticized the closure of
airspace by several European states to a Bolivian presidential
aircraft en route from Russia on Tuesday, forcing it to land in
Vienna, RIA Novosti reported.
The aircraft carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales had been in the
air for over three hours after taking off from Moscow on Tuesday, when
France, Spain and Portugal announced the closure of their airspace to
it. The plane landed in the Austrian capital Vienna, but was later
allowed to fly on to Bolivia.
`The steps undertaken by France, Spain and Portugal can be hardly
described as friendly in regard to Bolivia as well as to Russia, from
where Morales was flying after visiting Moscow,' the Russian Foreign
Ministry said in a statement.
`Moreover, the refusal to grant airspace passage rights for the
aircraft could have created a threat to passengers on board the plane,
including the head of a sovereign state,' the ministry added.
The aircraft was reportedly searched in a `voluntary inspection' while
in Vienna, Deputy Chancellor Michael Spindelegger said on Wednesday,
apparently on suspicion it might have fugitive US intelligence
contractor Edward Snowden on board. The Bolivian Defense Minister
later denied reports that the plane was searched.
Snowden, a former contractor for the US National Security Agency, is
wanted by the United States for disclosing a top-secret surveillance
program. He is now reportedly in the transit section of Moscow's
Sheremetyevo airport.
Bolivia accused France, Italy, Spain and Portugal of violating
international law by closing their airspace to the presidential
aircraft, and said the United States instigated the action by the
nations involved.
The United States has not commented on the accusation.