NEW ZEALAND ENDORSES U.S. ICAO COUNCIL CANDIDACY

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000829 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/T-FOSTRANDER, IO/UNP-SBROCK AND EAP/ANP- TRAMSEY MONTREAL FOR USICAO E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: EAIR AORC PREL NZ ICAO ICJ SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND ENDORSES U.S. ICAO COUNCIL CANDIDACY REF: (A) STATE 167450; (B) STATE 129597 ¶1. In response to ref B demarche, the New Zealand government has decided to support the United States' re-election as a Category 1 country to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ¶2. The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) advised post of its decision in a September 23 diplomatic note. Post had delivered the demarche June 14 to MFAT and the Ministry of Transport. ¶3. In the dipnote, MFAT also highlighted the candidature of Sir Kenneth Keith for the International Court of Justice at elections scheduled to take place in October 2005. The note said, "The New Zealand Government attaches great importance to this candidature and looks forward to receiving advice from the United States regarding support for Sir Kenneth Keith's ICJ candidature." As noted in ref A, the Secretary responded to a June 16 letter from New Zealand Foreign Minister Goff seeking support for Sir Kenneth's candidacy by saying that the United States would give careful consideration to his qualifications before the election. BURNETT