Security Council Libya committee anounces Haj flight guidelines under sanctions

The United Nations Security Council committee that administers the flight ban against Libya yesterday laid out the conditions on which it would allow flights for Libyan pilgrims who wish to perform the Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

The committee said that during the Haj season a specified number of flights depending on the number of pilgrims would be acceptable from Tripoli and Benghazi in Libya to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on several conditions.

The committee said that the governments of airlines providing flights to and from Libya must provide the exact schedules, routes and and aircraft registration numbers for each flight.

The flights must be non-stop and depart from and arrive at authorized destinations.

Neither Libya nor any "Libyan entity" can own, lease or control the aircraft making the flight, nor can they benefit financially from the flights, either directly or indirectly.

The aircraft must be inspected to assure that they are being used only for authorized purposes with Security Council resolutions. The inspections can be carried out by the concerned government or UN officials at the airport immediately prior to takeoff for Libya; at Triploi, Benghazi and Jeddah on arrival or departure; and at the home airport upon return from Libya.