ICAO CONFERENCE DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO DOMINICAN

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 004892 SIPDIS IO/T AND EB/TRA, US MISSION TO ICAO, FAA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC (AIA-100) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAIR XX SUBJECT: ICAO CONFERENCE DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO DOMINICAN CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITIES REF: STATE 168335 ¶1. (U) Econoff delivered reftel talking points as a non-paper to newly appointed Director General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) Norge BOTELLO Fernandez. Botello confirmed that the Dominican Republic will support re-election of the United States to the ICAO Council and in general would support U.S. policies concerning civil aviation. Botello did not guarantee that he personally would attend the conference but said he would send a delegation. Economic officer invited Botello to the U.S. sponsored luncheon on September ¶28. ¶2. (SBU) Comment and bio note: The GODR underwent a change of administrations on August 16. President Fernandez has replaced all senior officials in the GODR, including those in civil aviation. Botello was a former Minister of Interior and Police in the previous Fernandez Administration (1996-2000). Botello's appointment is not based on any experience in civil aviation. He does not speak English fluently. In the late 1980's Botello was a deputy in the Chamber of Deputies (lower house of Congress) for the Partido de la Liberacion Dominicana (PLD) and in the early 90's he served as President of the Chamber of Deputies. He was born on November 11, 1940 in San Pedro de Macoris. HERTELL