FRANCE: AMBASSADOR AND MOT PERBEN DISCUSS US/EU

UNCLAS PARIS 001322

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR EUR/WE--LARREA AND BALL, EUR/ERA, EUR/RPM,
EB/TRA--WALKLET AND MATTINGLY, PM/ISO-FLEMING

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR PTER PREL
SUBJECT: FRANCE: AMBASSADOR AND MOT PERBEN DISCUSS US/EU
OPEN SKIES, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY, AIR NAVIGATION CHARGES

REF: A. SECSTATE 24724 B. PARIS 1111


1. (U) Ambassador Stapleton had breakfast with Minister of
Transport, Equipment, Infrastructure and Tourism Dominique
Perben February 28. The Minister was accompanied by his
Diplomatic Advisor Jacques Beltran and his Counsellor for
Aviation Olivier Berthelot. Deputy Chief of Mission Karl
Hofmann and Econoff were also present.


2. (SBU) Perben began by describing his recent trip to the
U.S., noting some concern about the opposition he detected on
Capitol Hill to the proposed U.S./E.U. Open Skies Agreement.
He hoped this would not derail the DOT rulemaking process on
foreign investment and control of U.S. airlines, and
consequently a possible approval for the agreement early this
summer. He was personally supportive of the proposal, because
he believed it would increase competition, and serve the
cause of regional airports such as that of his native Lyon.


3. (SBU) In response to our recent demarche on Air Navigation
Service charges (ref A),Perben reaffirmed what Ministry
officials had already told us (ref B): that the proposed
Eurocontrol regulation would not affect the current French
practice of exempting USG flights from charges. On a
separate issue, he also noted that he was closely following
the certification of the A-380, the next step of which would
be evacuation tests in Germany in March.


4. (SBU) Perben noted he believed we enjoyed good cooperation
on transportation security. The GOF was working on organizing
a meeting to prepare the working group on transportation
security suggested by Secretary Mineta in Tokyo. Olivier
Berthelot agreed, mentioning the proposed technical agreement
on exchanges and cooperation between DGAC and TSA. He hoped
that better exchange of information might lead toward "mutual
recognition" of the high levels of security in France and the
U.S. We noted that French security practices already had a
good reputation, but that this did not affect the legal
requirements for transportation security established by the
USG.


5. (SBU) Finally, Perben reiterated his invitation for
Secretary Mineta to visit France this Spring, and promised to

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pass on information about possible dates. He also expressed
interest in having someone from DOT come to work in the
Ministry, noting that a civil servant from MOT was already
working at DOT.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
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Stapleton