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Tuesday, May 18, 2010     GET REAL

Sanctions? U.S. okays new jet engine components for Syrian Air's fleet

NICOSIA — The United States was said to have ordered an upgrade of Syria's passenger jet fleet.

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Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama has approved a plan for the overhaul and upgrade of Western aircraft in Syria's passenger jet fleet. They said the plans would focus on the state-owned Syrian Air.

The U.S. measure was said to comprise an erosion of U.S. sanctions on Syria approved in 2003.


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Obama has ordered a reconciliation effort with Syria, which has included the appointment of an American ambassador and communications technology exports to Damascus.

Under the decision, Syria would be allowed to upgrade the engines of its Western-origin civilian aircraft. Syrian Air operates Boeing 747 and Airbus 320 jets, both of which require U.S. components.

"The purpose is to restore the passenger jets to operational status," an official said.

On May 2, Syrian Air director-general Ghaida Abdul Latif said Washington has authorized a German company to upgrade his company's air fleet. Abdul Latif said Germany's Lufthansa Technik would upgrade the engines of the B-747 and A-320.

Still, officials said, the United States has not allowed the sale of aircraft with U.S. components to Syria. Airbus has sought to sell jets to the regime of President Bashar Assad.



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