UK security company defends Baghdad airport action

The British company at the centre of a cash row which has closed Baghdad’s International Airport today defended its decision to suspend its key operations at the site.

Global Strategies Group announced that from 3am today it was suspending its normal operations at the airport because of “continued unresolved commercial issues” with the Iraqi Ministry of Transport.

The company, which took over security at the airport in July last year, says that it has not been paid for seven months.

Following today’s decision to freeze security the company said it would maintain its “general security posture and the integrity of the airport facility” but suspend its normal airport operations.

The move means it continues to maintain its presence at the airport’s perimeter fence and main check-point to protect it from insurgent attack.

But inside, a spokesman said, “direct passenger security” such as baggage checks have been suspended preventing planes from operating out of the airport.

The stoppage follows a similar 48-hour suspension at the airport in June.

A spokesman was unwilling to comment on whether the latest suspension was likely to be resolved in a similar manner.

The company originally agreed a contract with the US Department of State and began work at the site in June of last year.

But “payment difficulties” began when the contract was later transferred to the Iraqi Ministry of Transport from November 2004 until the end of the year.

During the first quarter of this year Global continued to provide security at the airport on a the basis of a contract which had been, according to the company, approved but not signed.

A fresh contract, won after an open tender process, covering security from the end of March 2005 has also yet to be signed by the Iraqi Ministry of Transport, the company said.

The company said in a statement today: “In attempting to resolve the issues, Global has been in constant negotiations with senior members of the Iraqi government, which is currently not paying the company for the services it has rendered in helping the economic re-growth of Iraq.

“Once payment has been made by the client, Global will resume its work and thus allow normal air operations to resume, and ensure secure air transport for the thousands of Iraqis and international travellers using the airport each week.”

It added: “Since taking responsibility for the security management of Baghdad International Airport in June 2004, Global has seen passenger traffic rise from two to three flights per week to over 50 per day, while security incidents have fallen to virtually nil.”

As well as running security operations in Iraq, the company’s overseas involvement has included management voter registration in Afghanistan and logistical support to oil and gas projects in Africa.