Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KABUL5279
2006-10-31 01:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE WITH AFGHAN HAJJ FLIGHT SLOTS
how-toVZCZCXRO4614 OO RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHYG DE RUEHBUL #5279/01 3040142 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 310142Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3832 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH IMMEDIATE 4239 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC PRIORITY 0100 RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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
--------------------------
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
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