Italy lawsuit poses bad impacts to Vietnam Airlines

Rome (VNA) - The lawsuit against Vietnam Airlines filed by a lawyer of its former agent in Italy has imposed adverse impacts on the airline's plan to expand markets in Europe, particularly in Italy , said an airline official.

Vietnam Airlines Deputy General Director Trinh Hong Quang delivered this comment
during his talks with an Italy-based Vietnam News Agency correspondent prior to the
trial that is to open at the Rome Court on April 2 at the airline's request for
a cancellation of the Rome Court 's verdict issued in 2000.

Quang said, together with France and Germany , Italy is a potential market
and Italy 's Alitalia Airlines is planning to cooperate with Vietnam Airlines to
fully tap markets in Vietnam and Southeast Asia .

However, due to this case, Vietnam Airlines is unable to assign its agent and
neither can it realise a plan to open direct flights between Vietnam and Italy, even
though the national flag carrier has emerged to become a prestigious airline in
Europe as well as other regions around the world, he said.

The suit has posed great concerns not only to Vietnam Airlines but also other
Vietnamese businesses which are already operating or plan to invest in Italy ,
Quang noted.

He stressed that the claim by lawyer Maurizio Liberati, who launched the complaint
against the airline, for damages of up to 5.2 million EUR is "very unreasonable."

"We do not accept that unreasonable claim. We will conduct all legal procedures
necessary to protect our legitimate rights and interests," the executive said.

Lawyers from the Guerreri law office who will represent the airline at the trial are
expected to ask the Rome Court to rule out the earlier verdict on the grounds
that Vietnam Airlines was only informed of the judgment after the deadline for an
appeal had passed. They will also present evidence of arrangements between Liberati
and Vietnam Airlines' former agent Falcomar to milk money from the airline.

Based on the collected evidence and documents, Vietnam Airlines hopes that the April
2 court would re-consider the lawsuit in a fair and objective manner in order to
ensure the airline's legitimate interests and create a more favourable environment
for economic and trade cooperation between the business circles from the two
countries.

Vietnam Airline's attorney expected this will be the last hearing before the court
hands down sentences by the end of this year.

However, Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Nguyen Van Nam was more of the opinion
that the suit, which has dragged for 15 years, is likely to continue for
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