REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE WITH AFGHAN HAJJ FLIGHT SLOTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 005279 SIPDIS SENSITIVE, SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, EB/OTP, EB/TRA/AN CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A COMMERCE FOR ITA/SHAMROCK FAA FOR JHANCOCK AND RSMITH RIYADH FOR ECON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR PGOV ECON AF SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE WITH AFGHAN HAJJ FLIGHT SLOTS This message is sensitive but unclassified--not for Internet distribution. -------------- SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶1. (SBU) President Karzai yesterday informed the Ambassador that the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has not yet granted arrival/departure slots for Afghanistan's Hajj flights. The GoA is in the process of engaging the Saudi government at a high level to get these assignments quickly. Given the extreme political sensitivity of Hajj operations in Afghanistan, Embassy requests that Washington instruct Embassy Riyadh to demarche the Saudis to give high priority to Afghan slot assignments and, as a related issue, to prioritize inspections of older aircraft leased or chartered by the Afghan airlines; see paragraph 5. END SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. -------------- INCREASING NERVOUSNESS OVER SLOTS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The highest levels of the Karzai government are growing increasingly nervous over the issuance of arrival and departure slots for this year's Hajj flights to and from Saudi Arabia. Although the planning for this year's Hajj is generally going well, much of the detailed planning going forward depends on knowing when the flights will depart and return. This, in turn, depends on the Saudi CAA's slot assignments. Both Afghan airlines (Ariana and Kamair) report that they applied for slots well in advance of the early October deadline, but as yet no slots have been assigned. The GoA is finally--albeit slowly and under our suggestion--engaging at a high level to get the slots: Foreign Minister Rangeen Spanta has talked with the Saudi Ambassador here but has yet to speak with Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal. The deputy minister of transportation, who knows the head of the Saudi CAA well, has spoken to him but has not reached closure on the issue. The GoA intends to send a delegation of government and airline officials to Riyadh within the next few days. ¶3. (SBU) Another possible hitch in the GoA's and airlines' planning is that some of the leased/chartered aircraft are over 25 years old. In itself, this would not be a problem, but this year the Saudi CAA ruled that aircraft over 25 years old must be inspected before they can be approved to fly into Saudi Arabia. At this writing, only one of the older aircraft has been approved. Complicating this picture even further, the Afghans fear that the presence of Ariana on the EU's blacklist may make the Saudis reluctant to grant an otherwise routine waiver to Ariana. ¶4. (SBU) The Afghans have asked us to help with the Saudis, and the Dutch and UK Ambassadors have agreed to weigh in with Riyadh. The GoA is also reportedly asking ISAF to be prepared to fly the Hajjis in case their planning falls through utterly. If this last contingency plan were to be exercised, quite apart from the political issues it could raise in Saudi Arabia, ISAF would need arrival and departure slots from the Saudis. -------------- COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶5. (SBU) While the planning and preparation for the 1385 Hajj have gone reasonably well, failure to get arrival and departure slots soon could seriously disrupt the operation. In the current political climate here, the Hajj is an extremely sensitive operation, with potential for violence and political upset. Though the GoA should have engaged the Saudis earlier and on a higher level, we should lend whatever support is necessary to make the Hajj work as well as it can. To that end, we request Washington to instruct Embassy Riyadh to demarche the Saudis at a senior level on expediting assignment of arrival/departure slots for Afghanistan, as well as the related issue of inspection/approval of (leased/chartered) Afghan aircraft needing waivers to the 25-year rule. KABUL 00005279 002 OF 002 NEUMANN