News in Brief

Speech by Seleshi Bekele, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity on UNPSC briefing on GERD, July 08, 2021

Statement on humanitarian flight arrangements to Tigray

Guidelines for a humanitarian flight to the Tigray Region

Africa and the African Union

The 7th Meeting of the Technical and Advisory Committee of the Great Museum of Africa (GMA) was held virtually on Tuesday (July 06). The aims of the meeting were among others, to discuss the preparations for the launch of the Great Museum of Africa (GMA), receive updates on the preparations of the 1st Exhibition of the Great Museum of Africa (GMA), and review progress made in the drafting of the GMA Statute and the clearance of the Host Agreement between the AUC and the Government of Algeria on the GMA.

Ethiopia

Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed has expressed his warmest congratulations to the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the occasion of the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Abiy said in his message that the vision espoused 100 years ago by China’s sons and daughters to establish a prosperous China has been on the right track through the strong and heartily committed leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC).

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed his condolences on Sunday (July 04) over the death of renowned Ethiopian philanthropist Abebech Gobena. “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Abebech Gobena, who has been Ethiopia’s icon of compassion,” Abiy said. Abiy said, ‘my heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and the many whose lives she impacted. “

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Monday (July 05) called on various countries across the world to recognize the real intention of the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The Prime Minister made the remark today during his response to questions raised by members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR) on various current affairs issues of the country, including the draft budget of 2021/22.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Wednesday (July 07) various consultations had been held before the declaration of the to address challenges in the Tigray region. While responding to queries raised by parliamentarians today, the PM said the process of withdrawing the national defense force took more than a month. But revealing the decision at that time was not advantageous. Thus, the first and second rounds of the withdrawal were not known and publicized, he added.

Deputy PM and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen has called on the international community on Friday (July 02) to scale up its humanitarian support to Tigray in order to avert the potential risk of food insecurity in the region. Briefing ambassadors residing in Ethiopia today, Demeke said the country has been doing everything to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Tigray and to reach out to every person in need for the last couple of months.

Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia met in his office on Wednesday (July 07) ambassadors and diplomats of the Nile riparian states in Ethiopia for a briefing on the latest status of the GERD negotiations. During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said the GERD represents the common aspirations of all the riparian countries to equitably and reasonably utilize the water resources without significantly harming downstream countries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, had a virtual meeting on Thursday (July 08) with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, H.E. Marcelo Ebrard. During their discussion, the two sides noted the longstanding bilateral and multilateral relations between Ethiopia and Mexico which, they said, should further be strengthened with expanded engagements.

The Minister of Water, Irrigation, and Energy, Sileshi Bekele said the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is progressing well as per the plan. Officials of the Ministry and the Ethiopian Electric Power witnessed the progress of the construction of the dam on Saturday (July 03).

Ethiopia rejects the unwelcome meddling by the League of Arab States on the matter of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) following the League’s submission of a letter to the United Nations (UN) Security Council and UN General Assembly to intervene in the matter. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia,  Demeke Mekonen sent a letter to the President of the UNSC on Monday (July 05) stating that his country is disappointed by the Arab League for addressing the UN on a matter that does not fall within its purview.

Minister of Peace, Muferihat Kamil, has provided directions to international organizations on Thursday (July 08) providing humanitarian assistance in the Tigray region on the way forward as they undertake their responsibilities. During the occasion, a consensus has been reached on the procedures to be followed by humanitarian organizations and representatives of the United Nations, as well as ways to streamline the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Ambassador Mulu Solomon Bezuneh, Special Envoy, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Republic of Poland (Resident in Germany) presented her Credentials to H.E Mr. Andrzej Duda, President of the Republic of Poland on Tuesday (July 06).

The 11th Ethiopia-Russia military-technical cooperation joint meeting was held on Wednesday (July 07) in Addis Ababa. The current meeting aims at enhancing the military cooperation of the two countries by scaling up their military technologies, skills, and knowledge. Opening the joint meeting, Defense State Minister Martha Luiji said the bilateral cooperation of the two countries has been enhanced, particularly after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonen discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Czech Ambassador to Ethiopia Pavel Mikeš said on Wednesday (July 07) the unilateral ceasefire of the Government of Ethiopia in Tigray “should stop the Blackshirts and suffering of the civilian population not only in Tigray but also in northern Ethiopia.” Speaking to ENA, Ambassador Mikeš said that the unilateral decision of the Government of Ethiopia would stop the Blackshirts and suffering of the civilian populations in the region.

Somalia

Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Mohamed Hussein Roble together with a large delegation on Wednesday (July 07), visited Kismayo, the administrative capital of Jubaland State, SONNA reported. Mr. Roble and his delegation will have talks with Jubaland State President, Ahmed Mohamed Islam on implementing the upcoming election during his stay there.

AMISOM on Thursday (July 08) recognized Ethiopian soldiers for their contribution towards the restoration of peace & stability in Somalia. The ENDF soldiers received African Union medals after completing one year of service in Somalia under AMISOM.  The troops were deployed under the AMISOM Sector 6 in Kismayo Old Airport alongside Kenya Defence Forces, SNA, and Jubaland Security Forces to degrade terrorists. Ethiopia is one of the five AMISOM troop-contributing countries, alongside Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya & Uganda.

South Sudan

The Sudanese Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok on Wednesday (July 07) met a delegation from the South Sudanese embassy led by its Charge d’Affaires, Kau Ngak Mabar. The meeting reportedly discussed ways of enhancing means of cooperation between Sudan and South Sudan in various fields.

Sudan

In a meeting held on Monday (July 05), the transitional period partners council of Sudan recommended relieving the state governors and approved the formation of the Transitional Legislative Council. Building of the Sudanese parliament in Omdurman the transitional partners’ council is chaired by the Head of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and includes the Prime Minister and leaders of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) and the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF).

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Speech by Seleshi Bekele, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity on UNPSC briefing on GERD, July 08, 2021

Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. President, please accept my best wishes as you steer the work of the Security Council for the month of July. My respectful greetings to members of the Security Council, my heartfelt greetings to my brother Mr. Sami Shukri and my sister minister Miriam al-Sadiq. Also recognize and thank her Excellency Inger Anderson and the special envoy profit Geoffrey for their participation. And also, I appreciate the representative of the AU chair addressing this August gathering.

In this meeting and the deliberation of the council where a hydroelectric dam is under scrutiny in an unprecedented manner, I’m not sure if I am not the first water minister addressing this council. Ethiopia believes it is an unfitting use of the time and resources of the UN Security Council to discuss the grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam. Having said that, Mr. President, it is an honor for me to speak before this August body voicing the concerns and just causes of my country, Ethiopia.

A year ago, on 29th June 2020 under your presidency, council members encouraged Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan to continue negotiations to resolve the outstanding issues and expressed support for the African union-led process to facilitate further talks. Ethiopia took part in the negotiation with renewed commitment and good faith to reach a mutually acceptable negotiated outcome under the auspices of the African Union. I would like to pause to give the republic of South Africa special recognition and our thanks for effectively facilitating the negotiation under the end of its African Union chairmanship in February 2021. Similarly, Ethiopia commends and stands with the democratic republic of Congo, the current chairperson of the African union, for its relentless effort under trying circumstances, including the repeated disruption of the negotiations.

Mr. President We are dealing with a hydroelectric dam project which is not the first of its kind in Africa or in the world. We are building a reservoir to store water that will generate electricity by heating turbines. For your information, the GERD reservoir is two and a half times smaller than that of the Aswan dam in Egypt. Perhaps what puts the GERD in distinction from other projects is the extent of hope and aspirations It generated for 65 million Ethiopians that have no access to electricity. It is also unique because the construction of this 5-billion-dollar dam is financed by the blood, tears and sweat of ordinary Ethiopians. The GERD is a ride dam built at the right place for the betterment of people in the broader region.

Our first inability to utilize the Nile River so far is deeply embedded in the psychology of our people. Two famous Ethiopian’s proverb underscores this point. “Gowwaan bishaan keessa dhaabatee dheebota” or “የአባይ ልጅ ውሃ ጠማው” “Yebayin lij wuha temawe”. Both roughly translate to the irony of the tribulations of a poor man who stood in the middle of a river and lamented about experiencing extreme thirst. To change this generational lament, we have nowhere to look but the Abay or Nile basin in which two-thirds of Ethiopia’s water resources found. In this mighty river, which we share with our neighbors, our people so hope to extricate themselves of darkness and marched towards it by building the GERD. The dam has the fingerprints of Ethiopia’s farmers, pastoralists, daily laborers, students, business women and men and, the diaspora throughout the world who eke out a living in extremely difficult circumstances. In equal if not exceeding terms, Ethiopians have best wishes and neighborly care for their compatriots in Egypt and Sudan. We have all the intention to live together in peace and cooperate for our mutual benefit. The GERD demonstrates this core principle of collective well-being and prosperity. That is why the GERD is one of the regional integration projects under PIDA, the program for infrastructure development in Africa.

Mr. President, Africa, the cradle of mankind, is currently the youngest continent in the world. Africa is seek to reap its demographic dividend by investing in its use. Similarly, my country Ethiopia has 70 percent of its population under the age of 30. More than 100 000 Ethiopians graduate from higher education every year. Not only that, about 30 million Ethiopians are in schools at various levels of education. Catering to the needs of this growing population is an imperative and existential matter for my country. The lives of Ethiopians that languish on the Sahara Desert attempting to cross into Europe. The migrants in the middle east that sacrifices their youth to bring a better day for their families, the young boys and girls in migrant prisons in Africa and beyond, the barefooted migrants that you see returning to their homeland in mass deportation from the middle east deserve a dignified life.

The GERD is a project, a people’s project, and our humble attempt to realize this dream against all odds we chose to act and act in spite of the arduous obstacles we faced. Instead of coalescing in this challenge, we struggled to prevail little by little. We are overcoming.

Mr. President unfortunately we are here because Egypt and most recently Sudan have expressed their opposition to this hydroelectric dam. It is important to note that our two neighbors have large and small dams and the canals they have constructed with absolute disregard to the right of other riparian countries and rejecting Ethiopia’s repeated plea for consultation. After a series of initiatives to address the concerns of our neighbors in good faith, we are compelled to conclude that their objection is not as such directed at the GERD but rather to stop any water use by Ethiopia.

The fact of the matter is, we have no viable alternative. Unlike Egypt and Sudan Ethiopia has no considerable ground water reserve. We also don’t have sea water to desalinate. Nearly 70 percent of my country’s water is in the Nile basin. Even if we want to, even if we try, we cannot avoid utilizing the Nile river. In fact, constructing dams is only part of our focus. Our main objective is maximizing our scarce water resource by rehabilitating nature and preventing further depletion through our green legacy initiative, a prominent initiative of my prime minister Dr Abiy Ahmed. With an overall goal of planting 20 billion trees in five years’ time; we planted 10 billion trees in the last two years. This initiative which also consists of a seedling-sharing outreach with our neighbors is part of the grim belt initiative of the African union. We call upon Egypt and Sudan to join this afforestation program that improves resilience and increases water availability.

Mr. President, Ethiopia believes that an agreement is within reach given the necessary political will and the commitment to negotiate in good faith. We have already reached an understanding on a considerable number of the issues.

The African Union is seized of the matter and is heavily facilitating our negotiation. That is why it is regrettable that our sisterly countries opted to bring the matter to the security council. I will not drag you to a discussion of issues on my usual disposition to explain technical details on dams and hydrology. However, I want us to truly appreciate the subject matter we are compelled to discuss and we are speaking of a hydroelectric dam. For the first time since its establishment, this council is being asked to pronounce itself in a water development project. The Security Council is a political and security organ. It is unhelpful and misguided to present an issue that requires a hydro technical solution to this global security body.

Mr President, it must also be clear that the underlying problem for the difference between the three countries is the quest to preserve colonial and monopolistic status quo over the Nile. The approach of trying to solve problems using the mind set that creates them is what blocks our consensus on the GERD. The Security Council is faced with the question to determine whether or not Ethiopians have the right to utilize the night river. On behalf of all Ethiopians, I implore our friends in this council and in this wider international community to answer this question: Do Ethiopians have the right to drink from the Nile?

Mr. President, as a point of information, allow me to share with you the latest status of the African Union-led negotiation. On 24 June 2021, the AU bureau of assembly convened a meeting to discuss various issues, including the GERD. The President of the democratic republic of Congo, his Excellency Felix Tshisekedi briefed the bureau and introduced his plans for the upcoming negotiations. Unfortunately, the republic of Sudan didn’t attend this high-level meeting. With the absence of Sudan in the bureau meeting, the two countries have blocked nine meetings since the June 2020. We should learn by now that Ethiopia doesn’t respond well to undue political pressure and interference. Ethiopia will continue to exercise maximum restraint and showcase cooperation. Because we are forever linked by this majestic river. Whether we like it or not, we will continue to drink from the same river and must learn to live together as a neighbor.

I reiterate Ethiopia’s long-standing commitment to the AU- led process underpinned by a belief that Africans have the wisdom, the technical expertise and most importantly the agency to address their challenges. We believe the phase approach proposed by President Felix Tshisekedi, the chairperson of the African union could help us work towards resolving the quagmire created by the colonial heritage on the Nile basins that Egypt and Sudan are determined to preserve.

Mr. President, allow me also to address the much talked about secondary filling of the GERD. The second-year filling of the GERD happens in July and August of this year. We have proactively provided the necessary data on the modalities for the filling of the dam. Let me be clear the filling of the GERD is part of the construction process; this is clearly stipulated in the declaration of principle our three heads of states signed in March 2015. The filling of the dam, Mr. President, is pure physics. And once the dam concrete reaches a certain height, the water either flows through the bottom outlets or overflows the concrete. The dam as designed will store water until it reaches the 13.5 billion cubic meters indicated in the filling schedule agreed to by Egypt and Sudan. It is only fair that a country that generates 77-billion-meter cube of water impounds a small fraction of the annual inflow for its hydroelectric dam. Egypt and Sudan do not need any convincing as to the fortunes they will acquire upon the completion of the dam.

In the wise words of Sudanese officials, the GERD is an instrument of regional integration. The GERD for Sudan is what the Aswan high dam is for Egypt. Here I’m going out of my way to explain to you the absence of any threat caused by the GERD. However, we shouldn’t even have to litigate the benefit Egypt and Sudan will acquire from the GERD to argue for our legitimate share from the Nile. All of us Nile riparian countries are there to share both the bounty and the scarcity; none of us ought to stand thirsty watching the others drink. Through the GERD, Ethiopia is summoning this common sense to prevail in the Nile basin. Therefore, this council should not be dragged into the GERD negotiation in the expedient pursuit of domestic political objectives, as an example. Mr. President, if the council consents to the path preferred by Egypt and Sudan, it will certainly to be entangled with resolving disputes on all transboundary rivers, Interestingly, other than one island sisterly country of ours, all members of this council have transboundary water courses. You have dealt with and continued to address differences bilaterally and through basin-wide efforts. The GERD talks in the process we have undergone since 2011 gave us a major lesson. Hopefully this process will urge us to work towards our regional mechanism on the Nile basin. In this regard, it would be regrettable for the council to circumvent this hope by unhelpful precedent whereby the member states impose through the council what they should acquire by good phase negotiation. The council should resist concerted effort to turn it into appellate body on Transboundary Rivers or negotiation.

Mr. President, colonialism and colonial treaties toward towards Africa’s ability to utilize its natural resources for the benefit of its people. The Nile-basin countries have recognized this problem and worked towards addressing it in 1999 we established the Nile basin initiative and in 2010 we adopted the cooperative framework agreement or CFA on the line after 13 years of negotiation. In this framework agreement, which many of you in this council have financially and technically supported the Nile-basin countries agreed to share the Nile water in an equitable and reasonable manner. We replaced the colonial and monopolistic claim with accepted principle of international law. This instrument is now awaiting two more ratification for entry into force. The insatiable demands of Egypt and most recently Sudan are not about the most issue of the GERD but about the future development projects in Ethiopia and the other riparian countries. Without an effective CFA and regional mechanism similar application will inevitably come to this council; today it is Ethiopian turn, tomorrow it will be any one of the Nile-basin countries. The Nile belongs to all the people of the basin countries. All the half billion of us in the 11 riparian countries and the water is enough for all of us. In this regard, we urge our Egyptian and Sudanese brothers and sisters to understand that a resolution to the Nile issue will not come from the Security Council. It can only come from good faith negotiations with due care for the well-being and development of each other. Ethiopia looks forward to continuing the AU-led trilateral negotiation on the GERD. We have the solution at hand and we can herald good news to the world by concluding a mutually acceptable outcome.

Finally, Mr. President, allow me to respectfully request the Council to return this matter to able and legitimate leadership of the African union and encourage Egypt and Sudan to seriously and faithfully negotiate to reach a negotiated settlement on the first filling and annual operations of the GERD. We also request the council to make this meeting the last of its deliberation on the Grand Ethiopia renaissance dam. There is no subject matter as far from the mandate of the council as this one.

I thank you

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Statement on humanitarian flight arrangements to Tigray

The Government of Ethiopia repeatedly affirmed that it would closely work with Humanitarian operators following its bold and magnanimous declaration of the Unilateral Humanitarian Ceasefire in Tigray. Although the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority has closed the northern part of airspace for all kinds of flights below flight level 290 since 30/05/21, the Ethiopian Government has announced on Monday, July 5, 2021, that it gave special permission to fly for all interested parties to provide humanitarian services in the Tigray region while the airspace closure is going on.

In this regard, the Government of Ethiopia would like to underscore that it has not denied any request for a flight of goods and passengers to the Tigray Region. In fact, The WFP has requested flight permission yesterday for two airplanes that intend to fly passengers to the Tigray Region.

To better facilitate such requests, the Federal Government issued guidelines containing instructions and information that humanitarian operators should strictly adhere to to get permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia and other pertinent bodies. In this regard, the Government has clearly stated that all flights coming from abroad or domestic airports in Ethiopia must first land at Addis Ababa airport before proceeding to Tigray. Flights coming from the prohibited airspace must also land at Addis Ababa airport before proceeding abroad or a domestic airport in Ethiopia.

As detailed in the guidelines, all operators must submit and get approval for flight details, such as flight number, type of aircraft, the purpose of the flight, details of passenger, and type of cargo before conducting flight operations. It is also stated that standard search shall be conducted at Addis Ababa Bole international airport on all departing and arriving aircraft, cargos, passengers, crews, and including bulky cargos which might need dismantling for search and screening. The federal Government also requires all passenger and cargo airplane flights to carry people or equipment related to only humanitarian aid missions.

Despite the above-stated arrangements and the Federal Government’s willingness to work closely with humanitarian operators, some reports, mistakenly or otherwise, have continued to misinform the international community as if the Government of Ethiopia has been obstructing flights into the Tigray region.

In this regard, the Government of Ethiopia has written a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations protesting the unconstructive actions of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) that do not commensurate with the fruitful and productive relations that Ethiopia has built with the organization since 1984. The federal Government believes that the engagement of the UNOCHA, through its inaccurate reports and statements in depicting the situation in Tigray, has not been helpful and constructive since the beginning of the law enforcement operation in the Tigray Regional State.

The Federal Government also is under the impression that OCHA’s statements and reports seem to be framed to encourage and compliment the TPLF that have continued to fuel misperception and led the international community to misconstrue the situation in the region. It is also revealing that the Office continues to refer to the outlawed group, which the Ethiopian parliament categorized as a terrorist organization, as the Tigrayan Defense Force (TDF). The Government of Ethiopia would like to request the Office to refrain from issuing biased and misleading statements and take corrective action soon to avoid detrimental effects on the longstanding cooperation between the Ethiopian Government and the organization.

The Federal Government of Ethiopia would like to announce that details of the guidelines on the flight arrangements to the Tigray Region will soon be communicated to all stakeholders and interested parties, and the public via appropriate channels.

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Guidelines for a humanitarian flight to the Tigray Region

It has been recalled that the Ethiopian civil aviation authority has closed the northern part of airspace for all kinds of flights below flight level 290 since 30/05/21, reference AIP supplement number -AIP SUP 04/2021 and NOTAM NA 066/21. The authority banned all kinds of operators from flying to or from all airspace stated in AIP SUP 04/2021, and flying international and domestic Air traffic service routes as indicated in the AIP SUP 04/2021.

The Ethiopian government has planned to give special permission to fly in this prohibited area while the airspace closure is going on. On the condition stated in AIP SUP 04/2021, there are no ANS (Air navigation services) I.e. Air traffic control services, including tower control, Aeronautical Information Services, search and rescue services, air traffic service coordination service among Aircraft flying in all airports and in addition, there are no provision of Aviation security services, Airport facility, and ground handling services.

To operate on the above existing situations, all operators must strictly follow and submit the following instructions and information.

No flights are allowed direct from abroad and any domestic airports to all airspace stated in AIP SUP 04/2021 and also no flights are allowed direct from all airspace stated in AIP SUP 04/2021 to abroad or domestic airport in Ethiopia.

All flights coming from abroad or domestic airports in Ethiopia must first land Addis Ababa airport before proceeding to in all airspace stated in AIP SUP 04/2021and must land Addis Ababa airport coming from all airspace stated in AIP SUP 04/2021 before proceeding to abroad or domestic airport in Ethiopia.

Addis area control center will provide positive air traffic services 10 minutes before entering the prohibited area and 10 minutes after crossing the prohibited area while coming to Addis Ababa.

All operators must submit and get approval flight details, such as flight number, type of aircraft, the purpose of the flight, details of passenger, type of cargo before conducting flight operations.

Operators must follow their purpose of flight; the operator will take responsibility for any risk resulted from deviations.

All airspace as stated in AIP SUP 04/2021 below flight level 290 is controlled by the Ethiopian Air force.

All operators obliged to follow strictly ATS route and briefing given by the Ethiopian civil aviation authority, and also all flights shall maintain flight level 270 or below while proceeding from or to Addis Ababa airport, failure to follow the instruction given by the authority will create risk for the operator and the operator will take responsibility.

All passenger and cargo airplane, flights must carry people or equipment related with only humanitarian aid mission, otherwise will be confiscated according to the country laws.

At Addis Ababa bole international airport, standard search shall be conducted on all departing and arriving aircraft, cargos, passengers, crews, and including bulky cargos which might need dismantling for search and screening.

All parties and operators who are planning to use and take part in these activities shall establish their own, warehousing and storages out of the bole airport as the airport has its own limitations of space given that this is a special activity out of the normal scope of the airport services.

Organizations or individuals who might be going to participate in these activities by whatever responsibility shall submit the complete profile and responsibilities of each individual and organization to the relevant authority so that they can legally access the restricted areas including the bole airport.

Any shipment and items other than for humanitarian mission that might be carried by a person or included in the bulky shipment shall be confiscated and leads to accountability by relevant national and international laws.

All operators are responsible for the adherence of the above-mentioned instructions and guidance, failure to follow; the operator will assume full responsibility. All operators which might fly to this airspace indicated on AIP SUP 04/2021(no-fly zone), as per issued procedures shall assume all the responsibility and risks for what might happen on the ground and in the air of these airports and closed airspace, as there are no airport services and air navigation services, the current status of the airports is not known.