BELGRADE, September 16 (Beta) - The Serbian government will protect Yugoslav Airlines as a national company until it recovers, and not allow it to go under, stated Serbian Minister of Transport and Telecommunications Marija Raseta - Vukosavljevic.

"Privatization or sale of JAT is out of the question for the moment, because its indebtedness is greater than its value. According to some estimates, JAT is worth about $250 million while its debt is some $350 million, Raseta - Vukosavljevic told Beta news agency, adding that the national airline should first "get back on its feet through a program making wise use of its capacities."

According to Raseta - Vukosavljevic, a new general manager, who will be appointed in a few days, is to submit a plan for the revitalization of JAT; to back up the plan, give guarantees and assume responsibility for its implementation, which is to be carried out together with a team assembled by himself.

She went on to say that a complete reshuffling of the national airline is necessary, since its board of directors in is still made up of people who held those positions during the previous regime.

With regard to announcements that the contract with Erbas on the purchase of eight airplanes will be revised, the minister asserted that the Serbian government would examine the possible purchase of aircraft after JAT's managing board submits its conclusions on the company's "real needs."

Commenting on frequent expressions of dissatisfaction made by JAT's trade union, Raseta - Vukosavljevic said that many of its complaints are trivial, giving as an example the case of stewardesses who were angry "at being classified according to their proportions."

The minister of transport and telecommunications stressed that, apart from pilots, all JAT services areas should be reviewed for replacement.