KUWAIT CIVAIR: PROMOTING OPEN SKIES

UNCLAS KUWAIT 002493 SIPDIS STATE PLEASE PASS TO DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION STATE FOR EB/TRA/AN LAURENCE JONES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR PREL ECON ETRD KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT CIVAIR: PROMOTING OPEN SKIES REF: SECSTATE 140170 ¶1. Post received a diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated 3 August, 2004, expressing the Directorate of Civil Aviation's interest in beginning direct negotiations on a bilateral Open Skies agreement. An informal translation of the note follows below. We would appreciate the Department's guidance on the next steps to take. ¶2. BEGIN TEXT Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Legal Department 15808 August 3, 2004 (Complimentary opening) With reference to Embassy Note No. 337, dated April 19, 2004, expressing the desire of the United States to conclude an agreement to regulate air services between the US and Kuwait by proposing that Kuwait either enter into a multilateral agreement with a number of countries, including the US, to liberalize air transport or alternatively conclude a bilateral agreement to regulate air services based on the Open Skies principle. The Ministry would like to inform you that it has spoken to the parties concerned (the Directorate General of Civil Aviation) in this regard, which in turn has informed the Ministry that it prefers to conclude a bilateral agreement rather than entering into a multilateral agreement. The Civil Aviation Authority also proposes holding a bilateral meeting including specialized delegations from the two countries, to prepare and discuss the draft proposed agreement, especially since there are certain issues that are difficult to solve without holding such a meeting. The Ministry would be grateful if the Embassy would refer the abovementioned proposal to the concerned parties in the United States, and inform them of the Ministry's views. (Complimentary closing) END TEXT TUELLER