Taliban-owned Afghan Ariana airlines may be allowed access to some of its frozen assets to maintain its ageing aircraft, a senior United Nations official said here Thursday.
"There are some positive reactions to Ariana having access to some frozen funds," UN Coordinator for Afghanistan Eric de Mull told reporters on arrival here to discus the issue with the airlines authorities.
"There is an account where money is accumulated for overfly fees that can be accessed. The fund belongs to Ariana and it can be unblocked if it is spent for maintenance," he said, without giving details.
Ariana had its international flights banned in November 1999 after the UN Security Council imposed financial and aviation sanctions against the Taliban for refusing to hand over terrorist suspect Osama bin Laden.
The curbs blocked the Taliban bank accounts, including millions of dollars Ariana has earned in the post-sanctions period on account of overfly charges from 100 foreign planes daily.
Ariana, which has a fleet of only three Boeing 727s and a few Russian Antonovs, is run by the hardline Islamic militia which controls around 90 percent of the country.
The UN coordinator said it might be possible for Ariana to send its planes outside the country for overhauls in addition to getting a release of funds to equip airports and help international traffic.
"It is logical that these things should be possible," he said.
The UN official's visit comes two weeks after the Security Council decided to impose tougher restrictions on the Taliban for its alleged backing of international terrorism.
The new curbs, including an arms embargo against the Taliban and a ban on their offices and trips abroad, will come into force if the ruling militia refuses to hand over bin Laden and close alleged terrorist camps by January 19 -- KABUL (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
