Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06OTTAWA2361
2006-08-04 19:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:  

CANADA: VIEWS ON AVIATION SECURITY, DIPLOMATIC POUCH AND VCDR

Tags:  ASEC ADPM EAIR AORC ICAO KTIA CA 
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VZCZCXRO1135
RR RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHQU RUEHVC
DE RUEHOT #2361 2161956
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041956Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3381
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1221
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0212
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0799
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
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

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