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U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Press Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman
May 24, 1999

United States, Bahrain Sign Open Skies Agreement

The U.S. Department of State announced that the United States and Bahrain have signed today a new Open Skies aviation agreement.

This marks the 35th country with which the United States has achieved an Open Skies agreement. At a ceremony this afternoon in the Treaty Room of the Department of State, the agreement was signed by Ibrahim Abdulla Al-Hamer, Bahrain's UnderSecretary for Civil Aviation, and by David Marchick, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Transportation Affairs.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Marchick welcomed the agreement as an important advance in economic ties between the United States and Bahrain, and as a tangible sign of the Government of Bahrain's commitment to aviation sector liberalization.

Open Skies agreements permit unrestricted service by the airlines of both sides between and beyond the other’s territory, without restriction on how often carriers fly, the kind of aircraft they use, and the prices they may charge.

The agreement takes effect 30 days after an exchange of diplomatic notes confirming completion of constitutional requirements.

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