SPANISH DELEGATES TO ICAO'S MEETING IN CAIRO

UNCLAS MADRID 000667 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR SP SUBJECT: SPANISH DELEGATES TO ICAO'S MEETING IN CAIRO REF: SECSTATE 35954 ¶1. We met with Susana Espana, International Relations Advisor for Civil Aviation at the Ministry of Public Works, regarding reftel. She informed us that the following Spanish officials from Civil Aviation, Ministry of Public Works, will attend the ICAO meeting in Cairo: -Manuel Menderoz, Head of Air Transport Promotion and Development -Ricardo Fernandez, Head of Aeronautic Legislation Services -Maria Asuncion Cornejo, Technical Advisor on Aeronautic Legislation -Amelia Cotelo, Head of the Air Transport Facilitation Section ¶2. No information about GOS positions on the agenda items is yet available. However, Ms. Espana noted that the GOS submitted a proposal before the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) to harmonize standards for serving Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRM),which could relate to Cairo's Agenda Items 5 and 7. She explained that while Spain attempts to make its airports and airlines more accessible for PRMs, allocation of resources required to provide related services and enhance infrastructure may negatively impact competitiveness for Spanish airports and airlines. She said that the proposal is to be considered further in the Facilitation Subgroup of ECAC in preparation for the 35th Session of the ICAO Assembly this September. ¶3. We will provide additional information regarding attendance and GOS thinking on the Cairo agenda items as it becomes available. MANZANARES