CANADA: VIEWS ON AVIATION SECURITY, DIPLOMATIC POUCH AND VCDR

UNCLAS OTTAWA 002361



SIPDIS



SIPDIS



STATE FOR WHA/CAN, IO/T (L. Tobey) L/DL (S. Benda)



Montreal please pass to US Mission to ICAO



E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: ASEC, ADPM, EAIR, EAIR, AORC, ICAO, KTIA, CA

SUBJ: CANADA: Views on Aviation Security, Diplomatic Pouch and VCDR



Ref: State 112373



1. Summary: Canada will attend the ICAO AVSEC meeting in Montreal

in September. As Canada shares U.S. concerns about inspection of

the diplomatic pouch and believes strongly in its inviolability, the

GoC will align itself with our interests. The Canadian position,

however, is still being developed and officials are inclined at this

juncture to consider pressing for explicit language in the ICAO

Manual to prohibit use of "X-ray or other technological intrusion"

of diplomatic bags. The GoC intends to coordinate with USG and will

shares its official position with us as soon as possible. The GoC

relayed its understanding that neither Australia nor New Zealand

share the American/Canadian concerns, suggesting that little support

can be expected from that quarter. End summary.

2. Embassy provided demarche to Canada's Department of Foreign

Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and to Transport Canada (TC)

on July 13. Initial discussions with Bernard Pilon, Chief of Issues

Management at Transport Canada made it clear that the GoC shares USG

concerns about inspection of the diplomatic pouch, and has had these

concerns for some time. Pilon asserted that Canada strongly

supports our position that the VCDR prohibits any search that

reveals the contents of the pouch. Canada will attend the ICAO

AVSEC Panel meeting in September. Pilon noted, however, that DFAIT

has the lead in developing Canada's official position.

3. Emboff next spoke with Diane Germain, Director of Fleet Mail at

DFAIT, and the principal for that department on this issue. Germain

seconded Pilon's position and reinforced the message that Canada

believes strongly in the inviolability of the diplomatic pouch.

Germain indicated, however, that her preference at this juncture is

to seek to alter the ICAO Security Manual to insert an explicit

prohibition of using "X-ray and other technological intrusion" with

respect to the diplomatic pouch. Germain also expressed support for

the establishment of a working group

4. A discussion on August 3 with Marc Richard, who is handling the

issue at DFAIT while Germain is on vacation, revealed that the

official GoC position for use at the September meeting is just now

being drafted; DFAIT intends to provide the Canadian position to us

as soon as possible, and likely well in advance of the meeting.

Richard noted that his office has received indications from

Australia and New Zealand that neither country shares the concern

expressed by Canada and the United States; on the other hand, the UK

apparently does share our concern on this matter.

WILKINS