France, Spain and Portugal: We Didn’t Deny Landing Rights to Morales’ Plane

[flamingdem]

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/42219_France_Spain_and_Portugal-_We_Didnt_Deny_Landing_Rights_to_Morales_Plane

-- snip

Today, France and Spain disputed Choquehuanca’s claims, as reported by the AP.

Two officials with the French Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that Morales’ plane had authorization to fly over France. They would not comment on why Bolivian officials said otherwise. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to be publicly named according to ministry policy.

An official with Spain’s foreign ministry said Wednesday that the country on Tuesday authorized Morales’ plane to fly within its airspace and to make a refueling stop. The official said Bolivia asked again this morning for permission and got it.

The refueling stop was apparently in the Canary Islands, a stop which occurred Wednesday afternoon. The Guardian offers more clarity.

Spain, where Morales’s plane is due to refuel during its current journey, denied Bolivian claims that it only agreed to allow the plane to refuel in the Canaries if Bolivian authorities allowed it to be inspected. The foreign minister said this was not the case. The prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, said authorisation was given for the refuelling stop but that it was important that Snowden was not aboard.

more at link

[Mojorabbit]

1. France has already apologized for it.

You are way behind the news tonight.
Peace, Mojo

[flamingdem]

2. The did not know it was Morales and site conflicting information

France has apologised to Bolivia for refusing to allow President Evo Morales' jet into its airspace, blaming "conflicting information".

Bolivia accused France, Italy, Spain and Portugal of blocking the plane.

It said some wrongly believed US fugitive Edward Snowden was on board.

Speaking in Berlin, French President Francois Hollande said he granted permission as soon as he knew it was Mr Morales' plane.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-23174874

[Mojorabbit]

4. I followed it in real time last night

Today we have diplomatic speech. Portugal says it had a "technical problem". Italy is not saying anything. France is like, "Oh we did not know it was YOUR plane". Everyone is tippy toeing around each other now so that this mess does not get any worse.

[JimDandy]

12. Flemdem knows this. This is a DOA pot stirring. n/t

[PoliticAverse]

3. France admitted they denied airspace and apologized...

(The actual Ministry spokesman not someone speaking who wouldn't give their name...)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-23174874

Ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot said: "The foreign minister called his Bolivian counterpart to tell him
about France's regrets after the incident caused by the late confirmation of permission for President Morales'
plane to fly over territory."

[frylock]

5. mmhmmmnn mmhmmmmnn

[Marr]

6. Little Green Footballs? Really?

Wow.

[Mojorabbit]

7. I asked about that yesterday. I was told the site is allowed as a link now.

Amazing isn't it?

[BlueCheese]

10. I think LGF converted to the Democrats a while ago.

Sort of like Balloon Juice, I think.

[Mojorabbit]

11. Thanks! The posts coming from there seem a bit questionable but if they are converts

from the other side, it would explain it.

[Cha]

8. Mahalo for the latest in this clusterfuck,

flamingdem.

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

9. Flyover rights is the actual issue at hand, and France has already apologized for withdrawing it.

FYI