Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PRETORIA2177
2005-06-03 05:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Pretoria
Cable title:  

SOUTH AFRICA ON ICAO LEADERSHIP DEMARCHE

Tags:  EAIR EINV ETRD ECON SF 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 002177 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/EPS AND AF/S/TCRAIG AND KGAITHER
DEPT FOR IO/T/FOSTRANDER
DEPT FOR EB/TRA/JBYERLY, LFAUX-GABLE AND CDEMARS
MONTREAL FOR USICAO
TRANSPORTATION FOR SMCDERMOTT, KBHATIA, GRETCH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2015
TAGS: EAIR EINV ETRD ECON SF
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA ON ICAO LEADERSHIP DEMARCHE

REF: STATE 83002

Classified By: Acting Econ Chief Alan Tousignant. Reason 1.4 (b/d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 002177

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/EPS AND AF/S/TCRAIG AND KGAITHER
DEPT FOR IO/T/FOSTRANDER
DEPT FOR EB/TRA/JBYERLY, LFAUX-GABLE AND CDEMARS
MONTREAL FOR USICAO
TRANSPORTATION FOR SMCDERMOTT, KBHATIA, GRETCH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2015
TAGS: EAIR EINV ETRD ECON SF
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA ON ICAO LEADERSHIP DEMARCHE

REF: STATE 83002

Classified By: Acting Econ Chief Alan Tousignant. Reason 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. Per reftel, Econoff delivered the USG
non-paper to relevant South African government officials.
Department of Transport (DOT) Chief Director of Air Transport
Regulation Godfrey Selepe said South Africa supports a review
of Council President and Secretary General roles at the
International Civil Aviation Organization. Selepe said South
Africa could support a system that elected the Council
President from among the Council Representatives if the term
was no less than three years and the process was managed to
prevent developed nations from simultaneously holding both
the Council Presidency and Secretary General positions.
Selepe told Econoff that most sub-Saharan African nations do
not believe Dr. Cherif is representative of all of Africa and
would not support his bid for re-election. He added that
Europe would likely support a Council President candidate
from the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC).
END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Per reftel, Econoff delivered the USG non-paper to
relevant South African government officials including CEO of
South Africa's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Mongezi India,
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Director of Science and
Technology Lydia Greyling, Department of Transport (DOT)
Director of Aviation Policy Johann Biermann, and DOT Chief
Director of Air Transport Regulation Godfrey Selepe.
Preparations for an African Union Transport Minister's Summit
and the Minister of Transport's Budget Speech to parliament
prevented Econoff from speaking with DOT officials until June

1.


3. (C) Selepe told Econoff that South Africa agrees that the
roles of International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO)
Council President and Secretary General should be realigned
to conform with the responsibilities as originally outlined
in the Chicago Convention. Selepe agreed that Dr. Kotaite's
powers currently exceed the envisioned role of the Council
President and that this is not healthy for the future of the
organization.


4. (C) Regarding the possibility of electing the Council
President from among the Council Representatives, Selepe said
that South Africa could support such a system on the
following conditions: a) The term of office would be at
least three years. Selepe argued that two years would be too
short; and b) Mechanisms would be put in place to prevent
developed nations from holding both the Council President and
Secretary General positions simultaneously. Otherwise, Selepe

SIPDIS
felt that the views and concerns of developing nations would
receive inadequate attention.


5. (C) According to Selepe, Dr. Cherif will seek another
term as Secretary General. Selepe said, however, that it was
highly unlikely that South Africa would support Dr. Cherif's
bid for re-election. He added that the Southern African
Developing Community (SADC) and much of sub-Saharan Africa do
not believe Cherif is representative of all of Africa.


6. (C) Selepe said that Europe plans to support the
candidacy of a developing nation for the Council Presidency
and is lobbying with the Latin American Civil Aviation
Commission (LACAC) to identify a candidate. Selepe noted the
historical cooperation between the African Civil Aviation
Commission (AFCAC) and LACAC, but stopped short of saying
whether South Africa or AFCAC would support a LACAC
candidate. At a recent SADC meeting Selepe advised
representatives to take their time and seek counsel from
their ICAO representatives.

HARTLEY