ICAO approves 4 Arab states working paper against Qatar

CAIRO - 1 August 2017: The International Civil Aviation Organization Council (ICAO) approved in extraordinary session On Monday a working paper of the four Arab states cutting ties with Qatar, allowing Qatari planes to use air corridors in emergencies.

The session was held after a complaint by Qatar supported with Article number 54 of Convention on International Civil Aviation singed in 1944, which stipulates that the member countries can discuss any issue related to the agreement of aviation between the countries. The agreement was signed by 52 countries.

In the compliant, Qatar requested ICAO to interfere to discuss with the four Arab states countries that has closed its airspaces to Qatari flights.

The joint working paper that was praised by the member countries has included opening nine additional airways to relieve pressure on existing routes over international waters; these actions were taken in collaboration with the ICAO- associated with the United Nations (UN) - regional office in Cairo, to enhance air safety over international waters in the Middle East.

The head of the ICAO has confirmed that the approval came based on technical reasons not political.

The ICAO approval came following the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announcement on Sunday, to allocate emergency air corridors in the four Arab states for the passage of Qatari flights, in cases of closure of regional airspaces.

On 5 June, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have suspended diplomatic ties with Qatar, due to supporting terrorism. Flights between the four countries and Qatar were also suspended.

During the extraordinary session, head of Qatari delegation and minister of Transport released a statement attacking the four Arab states, depicting arbitrary measures taken by to block the State of Qatar.

In response to this, Saudi delegation that attended the session has expressed opposition to the Qatari statement, saying that it did not provide reasons for holding the hearing.