Moldovan airspace to stay closed throughout state of emergency - authority

CHISINAU. March 4 (Interfax) - Moldovan airspace will stay closed throughout the state of emergency, the Moldovan Civil Aviation Authority said on Friday.

The agency said on Friday it was monitoring the situation and the possibility of the soonest reopening of the airspace together with the Moldovan Defense Ministry.

It said it might allow using the airspace on the following occasions: certain civil aviation flights belonging to domestic and foreign airlines, commercial cargo and postal flights, humanitarian, repatriation and urgent medical flights, and other essential cases.

For instance, on March 4, the Civil Aviation Authority allowed three flights to Moldova, including two humanitarian flights performed within the framework of the World Food Program, and a postal flight carrying cargo for DHL, UPS, and TNT.

Given the Ukraine situation, the Moldovan parliament has announced a 60-day state of emergency starting on February 24. Restrictions were imposed on mass media and protests, and mass demonstrations were banned. Court proceedings were also suspended (except for urgent criminal cases).