OPEN SKIES AGREEMENT LOOKS CLEAR TO MFA

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000716

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EB/TRA/AN (GRIMM)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR PREL MI
SUBJECT: OPEN SKIES AGREEMENT LOOKS CLEAR TO MFA

REF: A. STATE 155275


B. LILONGWE 662


1. (SBU) Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda
confirmed the GOM's interest in the Open Skies agreement when
the Charge provide reftel A information during a July 29
meeting. Chaponda said the GOM will review the documentation
provided and begin consultations with the relevant
Ministries. Upon learning that other SADC member states had
concluded such an agreement, Chaponda said it was "almost
automatic" that the GOM would as well.


2. (SBU) After reftel B meeting, emboff provided information
packets on the Open Skies agreement to interested officials
at the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, the Department
of Civil Aviation, and the Department of Tourism.

COMMENT
--------------

3. (SBU) After initial presentations of information about the
Open Skies agreement, it appears that the GOM is interested
to sign, especially because of the potential code-sharing
benefits. Bureaucratic inertia, however, will likely impede
swift action on the agreement.
RASPOLIC