=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2002/09/18/i= nternational1506EDT0711.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, September 18, 2002 (AP) Afghan airline resumes flights to Western Europe after 20 years (09-18) 12:06 PDT FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- Afghanistan's national airline resumed flights to Western Europe on Wednesday after a 20-year hiatus. The Ariana Airlines Airbus 300 stopped first in Damascus, Syria. At the second stop on the way to Frankfurt, the plane was met at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport with a welcoming ceremony from Turkish aviation officials. On board the flight, which was to return to Kabul Wednesday night, were airline president Jahed Azimir, civil aviation officials and 10 passengers. "We are proud to welcome Afghan airlines at our terminal," said Gokhan Ozber, general manager of Ataturk airport's international terminal. Western European countries halted landing rights for Ariana after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to shore up a communist regime, though the airline continued flights to Moscow and a few Sovet bloc destinations for a short period. The withdrawal of the Soviets in 1989 was followed by years of factional bloodshed. Under the Taliban rule, which began in 1996, Ariana flew only to Tajikistan, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia -- until U.N. sanctions imposed in 1999 halted all international flights. After the fall of the Taliban in December and the lifting of sanctions, Ariana made its first flight abroad -- to New Delhi -- in January. Officials said Wednesday the airline is to fly Kabul-Damascus-Istanbul-Frankfurt twice a week, on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Turkey, NATO's only Muslim member, is leading a 19-nation peacekeeping mission in Kabul. Turkey and Afghanistan have had close ties since the 1920s when King Amanullah invited the Turks to help build his army. =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2002 AP