The Prime Minister of Iceland Mr. David Oddsson has announced an agreement with civil airlines intended to strengthening NATO military operations by placing the transport capacity of passenger aircraft at the disposal of NATO to move weapons and troops. Former Icelandic Presidential Candidate, Mr. Thor Magnusson leader of the Peace 2000 movement, was imprisoned when alerting police, members of parliament, civil servants and airlines to the immediate danger this poses to airline passengers that now may be flying in aircraft which form a part of the NATO military program. Mr. Oddsson said movement of weapons with these aircraft could start as soon as military agression is launched against Iraq. Many believe the agreement makes these aircraft a legitimate target for opponents in NATO warfare.

Peace 2000 contacted both Icelandair and Air Atlanta asking for details of the agreement, and for more details about armaments transport the Prime Minister said to news reporters have already taken place with Atlanta aircraft. After meeting with the chief of the Icelandic Air Safety Board Mr. Petur Maack, Peace 2000 has a reason to believe international air safety regulations, the JAR protocol, has been compromised. A reason for additional alarm is the airlines refusal to give Peace 2000 any details of the agreement or activities related to this agreement.

INTERNATIONAL WARNING:

Please be aware that if you are intending to travel with Icelandair or Air Atlanta you may be posed to additional security risk. In the opinion of Peace 2000 these aircraft may now fall within the category of targets described by Osama Bin Laden and his followers. Bin Laden’s call for terror published Sunday 24th November in the British Press is an additional cause for alarm.

Icelandair operates a trans-atlantic route from Minneappolis/St.Paul, New York, Boston, Baltimore/Washington, Orlando/Florida in the USA to: Reykjavik, Helsinki, Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Glasgow, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, Milano and Barcelona.

Air Atlanta operates under it´s own name, but many of their aircraft are camouflaged in the colors and identity of other carriers. According to Atlanta´s website these include: Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Saudia, Air Algerie, Iberia, Excel Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Air Asia, Nigeria Airways, Aeromar, Malaysia Airlines, Southern Winds and various holiday tour operators flying out of London Gatwick airport. Known routes are: Buenous Aires to Miami and Madrid, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpor, Lagos, London Gatwick, London Heathrow for Virgin Atlantic to Lagos Nigeria, Manchester UK for Virgin Atlantic to Orlando Florida, Santo Domingo for Aeromar to Carribian Islands and the USA.

Peace 2000 suggests the following precautions to passengers:

Call your airline to make sure that they are not using aircraft from Icelandair or Atlanta.
You can recognize Icelandic aircraft by their registration ID which starts with TF-
If you have other travel options, select a different airline
If you do not have other options, take out life insurance for the benefit of your family.
If you already hold a reservation or have paid for your ticket:
In the opinion of Peace 2000 the use of civil aircraft for military purposes is a breach of international regulations. You should therefore be able to demand a full refund of your ticket.

If you are about to board aircraft and see it’s registration starts with TF-
Demand to fly with another aircraft or a full refund of your ticket.
To protest by email:
Send email to:  althing@peace.is Your message will immediately be forwarded to government offices, members of parliament, civil servents and airlines.

Media Contact:
Thor Magnusson - Peace 2000 – Vogasel 1 – 109 Reykjavik – Iceland.
Telephone: +354 557 1000. Fax: +354 552 2000. - www.peace2000.org - Email:  thor@peace2000.org

 http://www.peace2000.org/