VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBR #0048/01 0201155
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201154Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0304
INFO RHMFIUU/TSA HQ WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
UNCLAS BRASILIA 000048
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/TRA/OTP, WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC
STATE PASS USDHS/TSA RROTTMAN
STATE PASS USTR FOR KKALUTIEWICZ
STATE PASS USTDA FOR GMANDEL
STATE PASS USDOC FOR LFUSSELL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAIR ASEC BR PTER PREL
SUBJECT: BRAZIL: DHS DEPUTY SECRETARY LUTE'S VISIT TO BRAZIL JANUARY
13-14, 2010.
1. (SBU) Summary: In response to the failed bombing attempt of
Delta flight 253 destined for Detroit on December 25, 2009, DHS
Deputy Secretary (DEPSEC) Lute visited Brazil on the last stop of a
10 country trip designed to elicit support from partner nations in
adopting a multilateral/global response to tackling the challenges
that civil aviation security present. Accompanied by DHS Assistant
Secretary David Heyman, TSA Director for International Operations
Robert Rottman, DEPSEC Lute's Chief of Staff David Pressman, and
Associate General Counsel Brad Kieserman, DEPSEC Lute emphasized in
meetings with Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Relations (MRE), Defense
(MOD), Justice (MOJ) and the Cabinet of Institutional Security
(GSI), that the December 25th incident was global in nature and
required a unified and coherent global response. All parties agreed
that improving information gathering and sharing techniques among
partner countries, utilizing the latest technologies while still
relying on the "human touch", and promoting a global response
designed to strengthen the weakest link, were necessary to achieve
greater civil aviation security. To kick start the achievement of
these goals, all sides agreed to participate in an aviation
security ministerial meeting to be held in the first half of 2010.
End Summary.
MRE- KEY STAKEHOLDER
--------------------
2. (SBU) In concurring with these shared aviation security
objectives and with the ministerial aviation security meeting
proposal, MRE's Deputy Minister, Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, stated
that although Brazil has not been a victim of a direct attack, it
would be na????ve to think it was immune, especially given its
increased diplomatic presence overseas and its hosting of the World
Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016. Patriota was especially
appreciative of the USG identifying Brazil as both a leader and
partner in this endeavor, and of the multilateral approach
communicated by DEPSEC Lute, adding that by taking into account the
various cultural differences within the international aviation
community through such a forum, the resulting common ground will
have a greater impact on improving global aviation security. In
reinforcing the global nature of the December 25th incident, DEPSEC
Lute pointed to the fact that it involved the purchasing of the
airline ticket in one country, the boarding of the flight in a
second, a connection in a third with a fourth country as the
suspected bomber's final destination; all the while transiting
through several nation's airspace and with a multinational
passenger list. DEPSEC Lute mentioned that the December 25th
incident caught many by surprise and called attention to the need
for the international aviation community to be proactive instead of
reactive. Patriota agreed with this position stating that the
interconnectivity of the civil aviation community requires a global
approach and response. Virginia Toniatti, Director for the General
Coordination to Combat Transnational Crimes (or Assistant Secretary
for the Department of International Security Coordination, which
will be the new title once officially approved) at MRE, and a
pivotal player in ensuring aviation security cooperation with GOB,
acknowledged the beneficial cooperation between GOB and TSA, citing
the recent successful completion of airport security cooperation
visits between TSA and their Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency
Authority (ANAC) counterparts at all 8 of Brazil's airports with
direct service to the U.S., but questioned whether there was
political support to adopt TSA's January 4, 2010 new security
directive mandating enhanced passenger screening, sufficient
manpower/planning capacities to implement these measures, and
expressed doubts over how much it would cost Brazil in order to
comply with a USG mandate. Patriota immediately clarified that
Brazil shared the same concerns and objectives as the U.S. on this
issue and suggested that DEPSEC Lute consult with ANAC about the
status of the Civil Security Policy document that has been
transmitted from MOD and awaits President Lula's approval and that
is designed to give ANAC the abilities to comply with the mandate
through collaboration with Brazil's airport authority INFRAERO and
with the airlines.
MOD- POSITIVE COLLABORATION
----------------------------
3. (SBU) MOD's Secretary of Civil Aviation, Brigadier Jorge
Godinho, welcomed DEPSEC Lute's comments on the need for an
international approach/response to the challenges in civil aviation
security and greater engagement in information sharing and
technology exchanges, adding that civil aviation security is a
difficult and complex issue, one that requires a proactive approach
through the combined efforts of the international flying community.
Godinho, who was filling in for Minister Jobim who had traveled to
earthquake stricken Haiti earlier in the day, added that December
25th wasn't just a U.S. problem, but a Brazilian problem and that
both sides, and the international flying community, should work
diligently to find not only immediate solutions to the threat, but
long-term sustainable ones as well. Godinho pointed out that Brazil
and U.S. have similar aviation challenges given the size and
widespread population distribution the 2 countries have in common
that results in a high reliance on air travel by its citizens. He
stated that without appropriate civil aviation security measures,
domestic and international air travel would be compromised in
Brazil, with grave consequences. Solange Vieira, President of
Brazil's Civil Aviation Regulatory Agency (ANAC), highlighted
ANAC's beneficial and cooperative relationship with both FAA and
TSA and pointed to ANAC's success in complying with ICAO based
standards during recent FAA and TSA airport inspections. Vieira
recognized the fluid nature that is airport security and expressed
a willingness to work with TSA on new directives as they are
mandated. She stated that she expects the new Civil Security Policy
document to be approved by President Lula within the next 15 days
and stands ready to work with INFRAERO and the airlines to
implement the January 4 TAS security directive. Vieira also
mentioned that given the fact that Brazil's aviation network has
never been attacked, ANAC does not set aviation security standards;
rather it follows and implements aviation security standards set by
others. Murilo Barboza, President of INFRAERO, showed great
enthusiasm in working closer with TSA to improve
information/intelligence sharing and gathering techniques, stating
was a key element in effective aviation security, and hoped to
improve this through greater cooperation with TSA. Barboza also
stressed the importance of using TSA expertise in determining the
appropriate types of screening machinery needed given an airport's
passenger volumes and threat information, and is ready to "roll up
his sleeves, and get to work" with TSA soon. Assistant Secretary
Heyman expressed appreciation for the both ANAC and INFRAERO's
desire to work closer with TSA and added that an enhanced TSA
relationship with Brazil would not only combat threats against its
civil aviation infrastructure, but would also help in combating the
illegal trafficking of contraband and persons. Rottman amplified
this working relationship theme by stating that the approval of a
TSA representative office in Brazil, which is still pending MRE
approval, would greatly strengthen all of the above shared
objectives. Godinho responded positively, stating that the MOD
welcomed the presence of a TSA office in Brazil and would support
this initiative. (NOTE: Toniatti, who is seen as the primary
obstacle in TSA opening an office in Brazil, was present at the
meeting but did not speak. In a subsequent conversation with the
Charg????, she stated that Godinho's endorsement of a TSA office in
Brazil did not constitute permission to move forward with this. END
NOTE). In expressing MOD's eagerness to move forward on this
cooperation initiative, Godinho suggested that the proposed
ministerial aviation security meeting be held in the first half of
2010.
MOJ- CONSTRUCTIVE INPUT
-----------------------
4. (SBU) Dr. Luiz Paulo Barreto, the Executive Secretary at
Brazil's Ministry of Justice, welcomed DEPSEC Lute's global
approach in tackling the challenges of improving civil aviation
security in a proactive manner, adding that the December 25th
incident was a threat against the international aviation system and
that the international community should not succumb to these types
of threats. In picking up the 3 part approach outlined by DEPSEC
Lute, Barreto stressed the importance of improving information
sharing and screening technologies that would allow for a more
targeted approach to aviation security screening that wouldn't
violate certain human rights guaranteed under the Brazilian
constitution. Barreto suggested that DHS explore the possibility
of establishing an early warning system that could help identify
security problems in advance and allow for the implementation of
proactive preventative measures. Among other ideas suggested by
Barreto were a public relations campaign aimed at educating the
flying public on newly implemented security measures, the
establishment of a positive registry to be shared by partner
nations that rewards passengers who fly regularly, without
incident, a categorical approach to solving and improving security
related issues that identifies the key elements such as information
sharing, technology and minimum security standards, and finally,
utilizing ICAO or the UN forums to host global aviation security
summits. Barreto stressed that it will be important for Brazil to
balance the need show a human, friendly face while also ensuring
that they do everything possible to ensure aviation safety when
they host the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016.
Alexandre Aragon, Secretary for National Security, fully agreed
with DEPSEC Lute's approach and said that they were ready to work
with DHS on immediate and long term solutions in addressing
aviation security concerns. Dr. Marcos Aurelio Pereira de Moura,
Brazil's General Coordinator for Institutional Defense also agreed
with DEPSEC Lute's approach, but cautioned that this approach will
only work with the right partner countries and that countries like
Brazil and the U.S. should vet carefully potential partners in this
initiative so as to avoid wasting time, technology and money on
those countries that don't have the will or the way to participate.
Moura stressed the importance of sound institutional training as
the cornerstone towards the successful implementation of long term
strategies in aviation security. Oswaldo Portella, Brazil's
Ambassador to the Ministry of Justice, echoed DEPSEC Lute's central
themes, while pointing to the reliance on air travel both
countries' citizens have given the size of Brazil and the United
States. Dr. Romeu Tuma Junior, Brazil's National Secretary of
Justice, commented on the Brazilian constitutional constraints that
affect a full screening regime, but offered that with improved
information gathering and sharing, and the introduction of new
technologies, a more targeted approach could be accomplished
without encumbering the entire flying public. He pointed to the
failures by the U.S. in not reacting to information received on the
suspected December 25th bomber as an example of failing to act on
key intelligence and offered this as a reason why partner nations
must work together to close these security gaps and share lessons
learned. Tuma noted that the majority of the general public in
Brazil had not recognized terrorism as a national threat as little
as 10 years ago, but a new recognition has evolved within Brazil,
and with it, increased anti-terrorism training. (Note: drafter
counted the use of the word "terrorism" by Tuma 6 times in his
remarks. End Note). Tuma recommended that besides the
ministerial/global approach to aviation security, Brazil and the
U.S. should look to use regional fora in Latin America to push this
agenda forward with the idea of streamlining regional aviation
security practices in order to address regional aviation security
threats. Barreto closed by again offering full support to DEPSEC
Lute in this initiative and suggested that the proposed aviation
security ministerial meeting be convened as soon as possible.
GSI- WILLING PARTNER
--------------------
5. (SBU) In responding positively to DEPSEC Lute's three part
approach in addressing global civil aviation security challenges,
General Antonio Sergio Geromel, the Acting Minister at GSI, agreed
to an integrated approach to finding solutions and offered GSI's
full support in this endeavor. Geromel expressed concerns about
the vulnerability of the global aviation security system and
stressed the importance of producing effective counter measures to
these threats through global and regional fora. Marcio Paulo
Buzanelli, Director of the Prevention and Combating Terrorism
Coordination Center and advisor to Minister Felix at GSI, said that
the December 25th incident impacted Brazil given its multinational
footprint and established Yemen as a terrorist center and a country
of interest to the international community. Buzannelli encouraged
the adoption of international aviation security measures through
multinational fora mechanisms, adding that although Brazil has not
been specifically targeted by terrorists, it shared the same
aviation system with those countries that have been, and that
partner countries are only as strong as the weakest link.
6. (SBU) Comment: GOB interlocutors demonstrated unanimous and
unambiguous support for the overarching goal of recognizing
aviation security threats as a global issue and readiness to
participate in developing standards and methods to address. These
interactions made clear that GOB agencies are willing and eager to
engage in specific follow-up, and expressed hope the proposed
Aviation Security Ministerial could be held sooner rather than
later (NOTE: Due to upcoming elections in Brazil, many Ministers
must vacate their positions by the beginning of April. While
agency heads such as ANAC and INFRAERO who are not running for
election are not required to depart, the Justice Minister, for
example, is expected to depart, and some agency heads closely
associated with political parties or candidates might also leave
office over the next months. END NOTE). Post stands ready to
support follow up action and visits as DHS and TSA requires. In
the short term, Post suggests that DEPSEC Lute reach out to MRE's
Patriota to discuss the issue of the establishment of a TSA office
in Brazil to ensure that momentum is carried forward from these
positive meetings and translated into beneficial aviation security
cooperation between the U.S. and Brazil. END COMMENT
7. (U) The message has been cleared by the delegation.
KUBISKE
KUBISKE