NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVAIR "INTENDS" TO

UNCLAS MADRID 001905 SIPDIS SENSITIVE EB/TRA/OTP FOR MEGAN WALKLET EB/TRA/AN FOR JOE YOUNG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR SP SUBJECT: NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVAIR "INTENDS" TO ESTABLISH BILATERAL OPEN SKIES RELATIONSHIP REF: A. SECSTATE 91041 ¶B. MADRID 1833 ¶1. We sent reftel A talking points in a letter welcoming Spain,s new Director General of Civil Aviation Manuel Bautista Perez and requesting an introductory appointment. To our surprise, Bautista responded notifying us of the GOS's "intent" to establish an open skies relationship. ¶2. An informal translation of the relevant paragraphs follow: Begin informal translation: As you already know, Spain actively takes part in the (US-EU) negotiations that are being held, and has supported with determination the work directed at reaching greater cooperation in competitive matters, common regulation and progressive market access liberalization for the companies of both parties. On the other hand, and as it was declared in previous occasions to the Embassy as well as to representatives of the Department of State and Department of Transportation of the United States, Spain has the intention of establishing an open skies relationship with the United States which permits resolution, as soon as possible, of the current disadvantaged situation of Spanish companies compared with companies of other Member States that have concluded open skies agreements with the U.S. End Translation ¶3. Bautista also promised to contact us "as soon as possible" to set up a meeting. We will clarify with him Spain's willingness to enter into bilateral open skies negotiations. ¶4. Comment: The GOS has expressed concern several times before about the unequal status of Spanish airlines compared with airlines of member states with open skies agreements (see ref B). But this is the first time the GOS has expressed an "intention of establishing an open skies relationship" that is not contingent upon the consent of Brussels. We will seek more detail about GOS plans when we meet with Bautista. End Comment. ARGYROS