§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the restrictions currently preventing Yugoslav Airlines from flying into London Heathrow airport; what action is being taken to allow such flights; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NorrisFollowing the suspension of certain sanctions imposed in the Security Council of the United Nations, which permits passenger services to operate to and from Belgrade for an initial period, JAT Yugoslav Airlines has applied to my Department for permission to fly to Heathrow. The United Kingdom normally expects countries whose airlines fly here to be signatories to the Chicago convention on international civil aviation, which binds airlines to minimum safety standards in respect of maintenance of aircraft and flight operations and their oversight by the state's regulatory authorities. The federal republic of Yugoslavia is not a signatory to the convention, and we are discussing with it how we can be assured that international safety standards are being met before we permit JAT to operate to London.