Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STOCKHOLM3
2009-01-05 12:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
SWEDISH CHARTER AIRCRAFT STARTS A REGULAR FLIGHT
how-toP 051255Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4008 INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000003
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON PGOV IZ SW
SUBJECT: SWEDISH CHARTER AIRCRAFT STARTS A REGULAR FLIGHT
TO BAGHDAD
UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000003
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON PGOV IZ SW
SUBJECT: SWEDISH CHARTER AIRCRAFT STARTS A REGULAR FLIGHT
TO BAGHDAD
1. On January 2, Nordic Airways, a Swedish private sector
company, flew its first flight to Baghdad, carrying 150
passengers to Baghdad International Airport (BIA). According
to Swedish press, this marks the first commercial passenger
flight from Europe to the Iraqi capital since the UN imposed
sanctions on Iraq after Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion of
Kuwait. Iraqi Transport Minister Amer Abduljabbar Ismail
told journalists that he expects additional international
flights in the next two days. Iraq's Transport Ministry
signed a preliminary agreement earlier in the week with Air
France-KLM that will allow Iraqi Airways to fly to European
destinations, according to Ismail. The agreement also calls
for BIA to be renovated.
2. In addition to this new Baghdad flight, Swedish charter
companies have for several years flown to the northern Iraqi
cities of Erbil and Suleimaniya. Sweden has Europe's largest
Iraqi immigrant community, with official estimates of between
120,000 and 150,000.
SILVERMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON PGOV IZ SW
SUBJECT: SWEDISH CHARTER AIRCRAFT STARTS A REGULAR FLIGHT
TO BAGHDAD
1. On January 2, Nordic Airways, a Swedish private sector
company, flew its first flight to Baghdad, carrying 150
passengers to Baghdad International Airport (BIA). According
to Swedish press, this marks the first commercial passenger
flight from Europe to the Iraqi capital since the UN imposed
sanctions on Iraq after Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion of
Kuwait. Iraqi Transport Minister Amer Abduljabbar Ismail
told journalists that he expects additional international
flights in the next two days. Iraq's Transport Ministry
signed a preliminary agreement earlier in the week with Air
France-KLM that will allow Iraqi Airways to fly to European
destinations, according to Ismail. The agreement also calls
for BIA to be renovated.
2. In addition to this new Baghdad flight, Swedish charter
companies have for several years flown to the northern Iraqi
cities of Erbil and Suleimaniya. Sweden has Europe's largest
Iraqi immigrant community, with official estimates of between
120,000 and 150,000.
SILVERMAN