TEXT: DOT 2/28 ANNOUNCEMENT ON U.S.-TAIWAN OPEN SKIES AGREEMENT
(AIT and TECRO reach agreement on text)

Washington -- The Department of Transportation (DOT) announced February 28 that the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) reached agreement on the text of an open skies aviation regime that will permit the airlines of Taiwan and the United States to operate U.S.-Taiwan air services without restrictions.

"With this agreement between AIT and TECRO, we have initialed three open skies agreements in the Asia/Pacific region and are now in a position to bring into force the three agreements reached thus far," Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater said. The other two are with Singapore and Brunei.

Following is the official text of the DOT announcement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

U.S.-TAIWAN OPEN SKIES AVIATION AGREEMENT REACHED

Last night the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) reached agreement on the text of an open skies aviation regime that will permit the airlines of Taiwan and the United States to operate U.S.-Taiwan air services without restrictions.

The agreement is similar to those signed by the United States with 12 European countries.

"With this agreement between AIT and TECRO, we have initialed three open skies agreements in the Asia/Pacific region and are now in a position to bring into force the three agreements reached thus far, Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater said. "This is an important milestone in the initiative begun under my predecessor, Secretary Federico Pena."

The U.S. open skies initiative in Asia was announced last summer. Since then, the United States has initialed open skies agreements with Singapore and Brunei. Negotiations are ongoing with Malaysia and are anticipated with Korea and New Zealand in the near future.

The initiative to open aviation markets in Asia furthers the Clinton administration's policy of liberalizing aviation services around the world, Secretary Slater said. By permitting maximum flexibility for airlines to respond to market needs, passengers and shippers benefit through more frequent and convenient air services and lower fares.

(end text)