ICAO'S MEETING IN CAIRO, GUATEMALA'S PARTICIPATION

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000449

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR FAA: KRISTA BERQUIST, TSA MIAMI: VICTOR GUARDIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR GT
SUBJECT: ICAO'S MEETING IN CAIRO, GUATEMALA'S PARTICIPATION

REF: SECSTATE 35954

Guatemalan Civil Aviation (DGAC) authorities will not
participate in ICAO's meeting in Cairo, nor have they taken
any positions on key agenda items. The new Director for
Civil Aviation, Juan Antonio Presa, came to the job in late
January with the change in government. The new
administration, at our urging, has made improving airport
security a priority, and Presa's efforts are focused on
securing the additional resources needed. Presa seems
sincere in his efforts to address serious weaknesses
highlighted by a recent TSA team visit and with the amount
and urgency of the work to be done, it is unlikely he will be
prepared to focus in the short-term, on broader ICAO issues.
HAMILTON