Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAMASCUS5096
2006-10-30 11:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
SARG TO SIGN RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT DEAL
how-toVZCZCXRO3876 OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHDM #5096 3031145 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 301145Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2209 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 1349 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0182
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 005096
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/ELA
NSC FOR MARCHESE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2016
TAGS: EAID EAIR PGOV PREL SY
SUBJECT: SARG TO SIGN RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT DEAL
REF: A. DAMASCUS 3864
B. DAMASCUS 3186
C. DAMASCUS 1811
D. DAMASCUS 1952
Classified By: CDA Michael H. Corbin for reasons 1.5 b/d
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 005096
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/ELA
NSC FOR MARCHESE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2016
TAGS: EAID EAIR PGOV PREL SY
SUBJECT: SARG TO SIGN RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT DEAL
REF: A. DAMASCUS 3864
B. DAMASCUS 3186
C. DAMASCUS 1811
D. DAMASCUS 1952
Classified By: CDA Michael H. Corbin for reasons 1.5 b/d
1. (C) Former Russian Prime Minister and current President
of the Russian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Yevgeni
Primakov, is in the middle of a two day visit to Damascus.
In addition to consultations with President Asad and others
yesterday, leading Shi,a businessman, Saeb Nahas told Charge
that Primakov is expected to sign a contract to sell
Russian-built Ilyushin and Tupolev airplanes to Syrian Arab
Airlines (SAA). The deal has been pending for months (refs
A, B),as the SARG and the SAA have been increasingly
desperate to find a suitable replacement for the airline,s
aging fleet of Boeings (ref C).
2. (C) Minister of Transportation, Yador Sulieman, however,
continues to pursue obtaining Airbus or Boeing aircraft via a
lease agreement brokered by ICAO. During a recent courtesy
call on the Charge, UNDP Representative Ali Za,tari
mentioned that the joint UNDP/ICAO project to negotiate the
lease was going ahead as scheduled (ref D). Za,tari left
unclear, however, how UNDP or ICAO planned to deal with the
need to obtain a US export license prior to finalizing any
new lease for Boeing or Airbus airplanes.
3. (C) Comment. Despite Nahas,s certainty that a contract
for Russian airplanes would be signed during Primakov,s
visit, it seems apparent the SARG will continue to work other
airplane purchase/lease options for as long as possible.
Although Primakov's visit drew wide local media coverage,
there has yet to be any mention of the aircraft sale in the
press. This is in cantrast with previous visits were the
potential purchase contract received generous coverage.
CORBIN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/ELA
NSC FOR MARCHESE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2016
TAGS: EAID EAIR PGOV PREL SY
SUBJECT: SARG TO SIGN RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT DEAL
REF: A. DAMASCUS 3864
B. DAMASCUS 3186
C. DAMASCUS 1811
D. DAMASCUS 1952
Classified By: CDA Michael H. Corbin for reasons 1.5 b/d
1. (C) Former Russian Prime Minister and current President
of the Russian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Yevgeni
Primakov, is in the middle of a two day visit to Damascus.
In addition to consultations with President Asad and others
yesterday, leading Shi,a businessman, Saeb Nahas told Charge
that Primakov is expected to sign a contract to sell
Russian-built Ilyushin and Tupolev airplanes to Syrian Arab
Airlines (SAA). The deal has been pending for months (refs
A, B),as the SARG and the SAA have been increasingly
desperate to find a suitable replacement for the airline,s
aging fleet of Boeings (ref C).
2. (C) Minister of Transportation, Yador Sulieman, however,
continues to pursue obtaining Airbus or Boeing aircraft via a
lease agreement brokered by ICAO. During a recent courtesy
call on the Charge, UNDP Representative Ali Za,tari
mentioned that the joint UNDP/ICAO project to negotiate the
lease was going ahead as scheduled (ref D). Za,tari left
unclear, however, how UNDP or ICAO planned to deal with the
need to obtain a US export license prior to finalizing any
new lease for Boeing or Airbus airplanes.
3. (C) Comment. Despite Nahas,s certainty that a contract
for Russian airplanes would be signed during Primakov,s
visit, it seems apparent the SARG will continue to work other
airplane purchase/lease options for as long as possible.
Although Primakov's visit drew wide local media coverage,
there has yet to be any mention of the aircraft sale in the
press. This is in cantrast with previous visits were the
potential purchase contract received generous coverage.
CORBIN