MPs Fail to Ratify Accord with Foreign Airlines

Lawmakers failed at the last session of the outgoing Parliament today to approve agreement between Georgia and Turkish Airlines and British Mediterranean Airways.

The preliminary, unofficial voting on accord showed that there were not enough MPs at the session to pass the document.

The Georgian authorities canceled the flight license to the British Mediterranean Airways (BMedA), which is the franchise partner to British Airways, and the Turkish Airlines from April 15, 2002 explaining decision with unpaid taxes, inadequate legal basis and unsolved disputes with the Georgian flagship company Airzena.

The Turkish Airlines managed to restore Istanbul-Tbilisi flights after deal with the authorities and the Georgian flagship Airzena. However BMedA still fails to conduct flights between London and Tbilisi.

“I am really sorry that the Parliament could not pass these agreements. I will do outmost to approve the documents at the very fist sessions of the new Parliament [which will be elected after March 28 elections],” Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said.