UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations is trying hard to get clearance for flights in Mali as the authorities have put into place new procedures, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on Tuesday.
"There were new procedures put in place for us to get clearance for our flights," said the spokesman. "At this point, all (regular) flights are grounded as we try to get clarification on these procedures. Because they make it extremely difficult for the UN to fulfill its mandates. So we are continuing our discussions with the authorities."
He said the new rules did not impact medevac flights or emergency flights by the United Nations, which has a peacekeeping force in Mali.
The requirement for flight clearance is understandable and normal because a sovereign state has the control over its skies, said Dujarric. "We want to be able to operate in a way where the procedure to file for those clearances and to get those clearances doesn't make it extremely difficult for us to operate."
The spokesman would not comment on the timing and motivation behind the new rules.
"There are two things here. The procedures themselves, and there is the motivation for the procedures. It's not our business to get into the motivation. We are trying to get clarity into the procedures and ensure that we come to an agreement with the government where the mission can fulfill its mandate to its fullest," he said. ■
