The United Nations on Monday, Dec. 1, called for full adherence to international law to guarantee the safety of international civil aviation following U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement over the weekend that Venezuelan airspace would be “completely shut down.”
“Our position remains consistent,” said Stéphane Dujarric in response to a reporter’s question. “I mean, we’ve seen the reports about the airspace, and I can tell you—and it won’t surprise you—that we call for the full respect of states’ obligations under international law, including the Charter and all other applicable legal frameworks, as well as the use of existing mechanisms to address any issue including these issues peacefully, ensuring the safety and security and connectivity of international civil aviation.”
In Moscow, Nikolay Shestakov, official spokesman of the Transport Ministry, told TASS that Russian aviation authorities do not plan to introduce a ban on flights to Venezuela thus far. “Introduction of prohibitions by Russian aviation authorities is not planned so far,” he said. The Ministry of Transport and the Federal Air Transport Agency stay in touch with the Russian Foreign Ministry, he noted.
