JAMAICA PROPOSES FORMAL SIGNING OF 2002 OPEN SKIES

UNCLAS KINGSTON 002731 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR (WBENT),EB/TRA (HORWITZ, DEMARS),L/T (HOLLERAN) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ETRD KTIA JM SUBJECT: JAMAICA PROPOSES FORMAL SIGNING OF 2002 OPEN SKIES AGREEMENT Ref: A.) STATE 220707 B.) 12/19/05 Morgan-Horwitz telcon ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4. ¶2. (U) Post received a diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade requesting that the United States and Jamaica move forward with the formal signing of the Air Transport Agreement of 2002 ("Open Skies"),which was initialed ad referendum on 30 October, 2002. The formal text follows. -------------- Full Text -------------- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has the honour to refer to the Air Transport Agreement between the Government of Jamaica and the Government of the United States of America, initialed ad referendum on 30th October, 2002 in Washington, D.C. (hereafter "the Agreement") and the Ministry's Note no. 358/505/50 dated 30th September, 2003 confirming acceptance of the proposal to permit operations consistent with the terms of the Agreement on the basis of comity and reciprocity pending signature and entry into force. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has the further honour to indicate that the Government of Jamaica is now desirous of having the Agreement duly signed by the parties. Article 18 of the Agreement provides that it will enter into force on the date of signature. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. -------------- End Text -------------- ¶3. (U) Post received instructions (ref. A) requesting that Post send a diplomatic note conferring a blanket designation for all U.S. carriers under the Open Skies Agreement. Per ref. B, post will delay sending such a diplomatic note until after the Open Skies Agreement is formally signed. ¶4. (U) Action requested: Post requests guidance on how to proceed and a single point of contact for this issue. Post's point of contact is Economic Officer John S. Morgan (morganjs@state.gov; tel. (876) 935-6028).