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Iran`s army insists on keeping new airport shut

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, May 9, IRNA -- Deputy chief of the Joint Armed Forces stressed
here Sunday that the Iranian army will remain firm in its decision to 
keep a new airport closed as long as `security requirements` for 
carrying out flights from it are not met. 
Brigadier Ali Reza Afshar, deputy chief for cultural and defense 
propagation affairs of the armed forces, stated that national flag 
carrier Iran Air`s commissioning of the airport`s operation to foreign
contractors was the problem. 
"Cooperation of the armed forces which is in charge of 
establishing security and upholding it at Imam Khomeini International 
Airport is conditional to scrapping any deal with foreign companies," 
he said. 
Iran`s armed forces closed down Imam Khomeini International 
Airport (IKIA), citing security concerns, just after it was officially
inaugurated with the landing of a foreign aircraft on Saturday. 
In a statement, a copy of which was faxed to IRNA, the armed 
forces stated that it had permitted the only flight from Dubai to land
at the airport, but closed it to more foreign aircraft. 
"The airport will remain closed until security requirements are 
met," the forces said, adding `foreign flights will be conducted from 
Mehrabad International Airport as before`. 
Iran Air has commissioned the operation of the airport to a 
Turkish-Austrian consortium, but the armed forces said this was 
jeopardizing the country`s `security` as well as `dignity`. 
"Regretfully, officials of the airport have taken this 
inappropriate decision without heeding security requirements as well 
as the law of the Supreme National Security Council on not using 
foreign forces," they said in a part of the statement. 
Afshar echoed those concerns, saying `unfortunately, the deal with
foreign companies could likely create security problems, particularly 
given that the airport has special security conditions`. 
IKIA`s Terminal 1, located in the middle of an uninhabited land 
about 45 kilometers (30 miles) south of the capital, was built at a 
cost of 350 million dollars. It can receive 2.5 million international 
and four million domestic passengers a year. 
Officials, at the time the airport was completed, said that it 
will eventually be able to handle 40 million passengers a year, making
Tehran a regional transport hub. 
President Mohammad Khatami inaugurated Terminal 1 on February 1-- 
the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Islamic Republic marked by
the return of Imam Khomeini from exile. 
It was to start handling international flights two months later, 
that is, by end of March. 
The armed forces on Saturday highlighted `the very invaluable 
achievements attained over the past two decades through the sacrifices
of the security elements` against `hijack and terrorist` attempts. 
"Security is regarded as an indispensable and vital issue ... 
especially when it is linked to the country`s dignity and security. 
"If damaged, this will dent the dignity of the establishment, 
besides inflicting irreparable physical, financial and economic 
damage," they added. 
BH/AH/210