Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIRUT350
2006-02-07 15:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON'S RESPONSE TO ICAO DEMARCHE FOR U.S.
how-toVZCZCXRO8628 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHLB #0350 0381518 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 071518Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1864 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHMT/AMCONSUL MONTREAL PRIORITY 0069 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0689
UNCLAS BEIRUT 000350
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAIR ICAO AORC EG ET FR LE PK SA TS
SUBJECT: LEBANON'S RESPONSE TO ICAO DEMARCHE FOR U.S.
CANDIDATE
REF: STATE 16996
We delivered reftel talking points and biography of William
Voss on February 3 to Transportation Minister Mohammad
Safadi, Director General for Aviation at the Ministry of
Transportation Hamdi Chaouk, and Head of the Americas Desk at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Ghady El-Khoury.
Chaouk told us that he personally believes that the ICAO
needs to change. He said he is favorably impressed with
Voss, but it would be difficult to ask Arab League members
not to vote for Taieb Cherif. Chaouk said that he would be
in Abu Dhabi this week for the ICAO Security Conference, and
he will discuss Voss's candidacy with the Director Generals
of Civil Aviation from other Arab countries. He told us that
he would follow-up with the Embassy when he returns on
February 13. El-Khoury told us that he would forward the
talking points and biography to the appropriate person in the
department of International Organizations at the MFA. He
said that he did not want to comment directly on Voss's
candidacy because he did not understand all the
technicalities of civil aviation issues, but he did tell us
that "it would be difficult" to vote against an Arab League
consensus candidate. Safadi's Advisor Antoine Constantine
told us that the Minister would study the issue and get back
to us.
FELTMAN