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Tim W Hayes 06/27/2007 03:12:41 PM From DB/Inbox: Tim W Hayes
Cable
Text:
UNCLAS SENSITIVE ANKARA 01644
SIPDIS
CX:
ACTION: ECON
INFO: CONS PA RAO FAS MGT PMA FCS AMB POL DCM
DISSEMINATION: ECON /1
CHARGE: PROG
APPROVED: ECON:TGOLDBERGER
DRAFTED: ECON:RKIMBRELL
CLEARED: NONE
VZCZCAYI747
PP RUEHC RUEHFR RUEHMT RUEANHA RUEHBS RUEATSA
DE RUEHAK #1644/01 1780804
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 270804Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2761
INFO RUEHMT/AMCONSUL MONTREAL PRIORITY 0055
RUEANHA/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATSA/TSA NATIONAL HQS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 5399
RUEHBS/FAA BRUSSELS BE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001644
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/T AND EB/TRA
AMCONSUL MONTREAL FOR USICAO
FAA HQ FOR JFILIPPATOS, DREIMOLD & CBURLESON
TSA HQ FOR JMACCREERY
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR TSA NLARBI
BRUSSELS FOR FAA KEDWARDS
SENSITIVE
SIPRNET
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ETRD ECON TU
SUBJECT: ICAO ASSEMBLY: TURKEY INTERESTED IN SUPPORT BUT STILL
FORMULATING POSITIONS
Ref: A) STATE 77572 B) STATE 83246
This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.
1. This is an action cable. Please see paragraph 12.
2. (SBU) Summary: According to MFA civil aviation officials, Turkey
is interested in supporting several of the U.S. positions at the
upcoming ICAO General Assembly, but Turkish officials will begin to
meet in the next few weeks to formulate positions. MFA Civil
Aviation Head Hamit Olcay also told us that, while Turkey will make
its final decisions based on national interest, as a general rule it
is best not to push Turkish officials to openly disagree or object
to EU initiatives and positions. He added, however, that U.S.
policymakers should view Turkey as an ally who could help persuade
EU officials at the meetings, and therefore he urged U.S.
representatives at the ICAO assembly to maintain close communication
with the Turkish delegation during the discussions. End summary.
3. (SBU) While Turkish civil aviation officials have not yet met to
discuss the September 2007 ICAO General Assembly, MFA Civil Aviation
Head Hamit Olcay gave us an overview of their initial reaction to
our reftel requests. Responses below are keyed to correspond with
the specific items listed in ref A and ref B:
4. (SBU) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP): Turkish
officials are comfortable with the general ideas expressed by the
U.S. position, but before agreeing to cosponsor the U.S. working
paper, Olcay asked to see a draft that he could distribute to the
relevant Turkish officials.
5. (SBU) Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST): Turkey agrees with
the EU's reservations about making personal passenger information
available, but policymakers are open to considering the U.S.'s
argument. If the argument is persuasive, Turkey could partner with
the U.S. to try to influence EU partners.
6. (SBU) Regional Safety Oversight: Olcay noted that Turkey already
cooperates with EuroControl. He asked for additional clarification
on how the U.S. envisions ICAO's role and jurisdiction over these
regional oversight organizations.
7. (SBU) GPS-SPS/WAAS Availability: Turkey has no comment on this
proposal at this time.
8. (SBU) Universal Security Audit Program (USAP): Turkey supports
all efforts to improve security and underwent an audit two years
ago. However, what information will be shared, with whom, and how,
must be clarified before Turkey can support such a proposal.
9. (SBU) Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Turkey firmly believes that
ICAO has no involvement on issues dealing with military UASs. Olcay
added that the meaning of UAS must be more clearly defined before
Turkey can support this position.
10. (SBU) Halon Replacement: According to Olcay, prior to receiving
this information, he had never heard of the halon replacement issue.
Turkey has not yet formulated a position, but he suggested that
further clarification would be useful as to who would bear the cost
of this replacement and whether or not the units currently used
would be phased out or required on new and/or existing aircraft.
11. (SBU) Environmental issues (ref B): Turkey agrees with the
ideas presented in ref B in principle but has not yet formulated a
position. In general it supports all programs intending to benefit
the environment. However, some of the concepts presented, such as
emissions trading, are new to Turkish officials and will require
further discussion.
12. (SBU) Action request: Post would appreciate FAA and
Department's assistance in providing timely feedback and
clarification, as available, on the following items:
a) Provide copy of USOAP Working Paper;
b) Provide additional information about the U.S. position on
CAST;
c) Provide additional clarification on the regional safety
oversight proposal;
d) Provide additional clarification on the USAP proposal;
e) Provide additional clarification on the UAS proposal;
f) Provide additional clarification on the halon replacement
proposal.
13. We agreed to meet with Olcay again closer to the date of the
General Assembly when Turkish positions on the issues will be
clearer. In the interim, we stand ready to pass on additional
information as it becomes available.
Wilson