ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's foreign ministry on Tuesday welcomed Switzerland’s decision to lift the travel ban on a number of Iraqi airports, including those in the Kurdistan Region, ending a restriction that has been in place for more than three decades.
In a statement, the ministry said it “welcomes the decision of the Swiss government to lift the travel ban imposed on several Iraqi cities. As a first step, the decision covers Baghdad, Basra, Najaf al-Ashraf, Babil, the Holy City of Karbala, as well as the Kurdistan Region.”
The ministry added that the move was the result of “continuous diplomatic efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, in close coordination with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and other relevant authorities.”
“This decision reflects growing international confidence in the security and stability of Iraqi cities,” the statement said, noting that it “represents a positive step toward strengthening bilateral relations between Iraq and the Swiss Confederation, and expanding opportunities for cooperation across various fields.”
The announcement coincides with the launch of a direct flight from Athens to Baghdad by a Greek airline, marking the resumption of European flights to Iraq’s capital after more than three decades.
Iraqi Airways, however, remains banned from European Union airspace due to safety concerns, along with Fly Baghdad, with only limited exceptions.
The Iraqi government has been actively seeking to have the EU ban lifted.
In late November, Iraq’s Transport Ministry said it had made progress toward lifting the EU flight ban on Iraqi Airways, as part of broader efforts to modernize and expand the country’s aviation sector.
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment