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Russia to give mirror response to EU cargo traffic restrictions

Russia's Transport Ministry says it plans to develop and adopt a regulatory legal act similar to EU Regulations 185/2010 regarding cargo and postal delivery from the EU member-states to Russia

MOSCOW, August 14. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian aviation authorities intend to develop and introduce new rules for freight and postal air delivery from the EU states to Russia similar to unilateral sanctions the EU had imposed on several Russian air companies, Russia's Transport Ministry said in a letter.

“We plan to develop and adopt a regulatory legal act similar to EU Regulations 185/2010 regarding cargo and postal delivery from the EU member-states to Russia. To resolve this problem, we plan to propose to the EU to conclude an agreement on recognizing adequate air security measures applied in Russia and the EU states,” Russia’s Air Transport Agency said in a document posted on the agency’s website.

According to air security rules the European Commission introduced in 2010, companies that deliver cargoes and post from airports of third countries for transfer, transit or unloading at European airports should receive ACC3 security status for consignments from third countries upon results of an inspection by aviation security independent validators. To obtain this status, a company should provide aviation security information, including confidential data to an inspecting agency and to send a declaration under which this company meets aviation security requirements to the EU before July 1, 2014.

“According to the Russian legislation, confidential information is restricted data with concrete requirements for people who possess this information, and any leaks entail criminal responsibility,” the Transport Ministry’s department said, noting that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recognizes the sovereign right of each state to protect domestic aviation from acts of illegal interference.

In early July, several Russian air companies received notifications from aviation authorities of several European countries that these companies are banned from delivering cargoes to EU states over the lack of ACC3 status.

In this regard, the Transport Ministry has sent letters to aviation authorities in Germany, Italy, Spain, France and Sweden that “it is impermissible to impose unilateral sanctions, possible introduction of retaliatory measures to protect interests of Russian air carriers and proposed to have talks to settle the issue as quickly as possible".