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MANILA, Philippines – The European Union (EU) downgrade of the Philippines’ aviation category, tantamount to a blacklist of the country’s carriers, is also affecting European business because it crimps expansion plans, including the purchase of planes from Airbus, the aviation company run by a European consortium.
With this pitch, Vice President Jejomar Binay appealed for intervention from French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius whom he met recently at the Quai d’Orsay in France.
Binay asked Fabius to help lift the EU aircraft blacklist on the Philippines, imposed more than a year ago. He said at least 84 Airbus planes are now in operation in the country and a purchase order for another 115 Airbus planes, at the cost of $15 billion, has failed to move forward because of the EU downgrading --- on safety and administrative issues which the country has already addressed.
Binay also reiterated President Benigno Aquino’s official invitation to French President François Hollande to visit the Philippines, possibly on his way to or from Vientianne where he is due to participate in the meeting of Asian and European leaders (ASEM) this November.
While in Rome, the Vice President had a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI.
The Vice President earlier went to Saudi Arabia to convey the country’s condolences to King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz al-Saud on the passing of Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Binay arrived Friday night from Rome via Dubai on board Emirates flight EK332.
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