Russia to resume air service with Egypt after international security standards introduced

 Air service between Russia and Egypt will be resumed after Cairo imposes international-level security measures, Russian Minister of Transport Maxim Sokolov said on Tuesday.

"It is a difficult issue. It [air service] will be resumed when security requirements at Egyptian airports conform to international standards and it is confirmed by the corresponding services," he told journalists.

He said he was ready to report to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation over suspension of flights to Egypt.

The minister refused to comment on media reports that the process of resuming air service with Egypt might take years. "I’d rather refrain from comments," he said, adding that he would provide no forecasts of when air service with Egypt might be resumed.

So far, in his words, there are no definite evidence proofing that the Russian plane crash in northern Sinai was caused by a terrorist attack. "Neither the [Russian] governmental commission, nor the [Egyptian] investigation commission have any reliable proof that it was an act of terror," he said.

According to the minister, security checks already underway in Egyptian airports, including with Russia’s participation, will finish in a week.

"[Security checks] are already underway since Monday. Our special groups from Rosaviatsiya [aviation agency], Rostransnadzor [transport watchdog] and other agencies are already working in all Egyptian airports," Sokolov said.

He refused to clarify whether specialists have already found any faults in security measures at airports. The checks will be completed in a week, Sokolov noted...
[tass.ru]
10/11/15
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Related:

• Foreign intelligence not shared with Egypt on Russian plane crash (FM)

• Putin orders suspension of Russian flights to Egypt

• Kremlin: no cause of Russian plane crash can be excluded