UN aviation agency eyes talks, meeting to defuse Gulf airspace standoff

The UN's aviation agency is trying to facilitate talks between Qatar and its neighbours to defuse tensions over alleged airspace violations, but will not intervene politically in the dispute, sources familiar with the matter said this week. The ICAO is working to organise a regional meeting for Gulf civil aviation and air traffic authorities in the next few weeks, as part of broader efforts to improve communication, one of the sources said. Earlier this week, the United Arab Emirates accused Qatari fighter jets of flying dangerously close to 2 of its civilian aircraft, the latest of several incidents raising tension in the region. "Sometimes if you're having a feud with your neighbour you need someone to facilitate the conversation," a source said. ICAO cannot impose binding rules on govts, but wields clout through its safety and security standards. <br/>