US has issued Boeing a licence to work with Belavia, Belarusian envoy to the UN says

On 31 October, the US Department of Commerce issued Boeing a permit to work with the Belarusian airline Belavia, including the lifting of restrictions that had previously prevented direct interaction between the companies. The Russian publication Izvestia writes that Washington also removed a number of specific aircraft from the restrictions, and calls this the first significant US step towards Minsk after several months of negotiations.

The decision is dated 31 October. Belavia Director General Ihar Cherhinets, according to the Ukrainian outlet my.ua, confirmed that the permit was a direct result of preliminary consultations. The reports do not say when the licence takes effect.

Belarus's Permanent Representative to the UN Valiantsin Rybakou said in a TV broadcast that the US Commerce Department had issued Boeing a licence to resume full cooperation with the national carrier. According to him, consultations in Washington continue, and a few more issues remain to be settled.

The Ukrainian outlet 112.ua, citing Espreso.tv, writes that the permit creates new opportunities for Belarusian aviation.

Background: according to Alyaksandr Lukashenka, during the American delegation's visit to Minsk in September he met US Special Envoy John Coale and outlined the range of key issues whose resolution by Washington will, in his words, become the foundation for further constructive dialogue.