Cablegate: Niger: Montreal Convention Ratification Still Up in The

VZCZCXRO2698
RR RUEHMT
DE RUEHNM #1123 3360525
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 010525Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4717
INFO RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1951
RUEHMT/AMCONSUL MONTREAL 0001

UNCLAS NIAMEY 001123

DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/EPS, AND EEB/TRA
DAKAR FOR SR FAA REP
MONTREAL FOR USICAO - L FAUX-GABLE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON ICAO NG
SUBJECT: NIGER: MONTREAL CONVENTION RATIFICATION STILL UP IN THE
AIR

1. DCM and Pol Specialist delivered reftel demarche - talking
points and Q and As in both French and English - to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Cooperation on November 12 and subsequently to
the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation on November 25.

2. At the latter ministry, Secretary General Ari Assane Arima,
Civil Aviation Technical Advisor Moussa Souleymane, and Director of
Civil Aviation Adamou Amadou discussed the need for the GON to
ratify the Montreal Convention. Secretary General Arima said that
the demarche would benefit reviving ratification efforts, and that
the ministry would work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Cooperation to get the matter on the legislative calendar of the
National Assembly, which will next hold session in March 2009. He
noted that there was no opposition within Niger to ratification of
the convention, and observed that the African Union's African Civil
Aviation Commission (AFCAC) had not assumed an advocacy role with
respect to its ratification by member states.

3. Secretary General Arima also expressed his appreciation for past
training in civil aviation-related topics provided by the U.S.
Government, and asked to participate in future training in either
aviation security or safety programs.
ALLEN

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