Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS5872
2006-08-31 16:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

FRANCE: DEMARCHE ON AVIATION SECURITY, THE DIPLOMATIC POUCH

Tags:  ASEC ADPM EAIR AORC ICAO FR 
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Lucia A Keegan 09/05/2006 05:29:17 PM From DB/Inbox: Lucia A Keegan

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLAS SENSITIVE PARIS 05872

SIPDIS
cxparis:
 ACTION: ECON
 INFO: ECNO UNESCO ECSO MGT ENGO SCIO TRDO ESCI FCS
 POL ORA AMB AGR SCI LABO DCM

DISSEMINATION: ECONOUT /1
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: ECON:SDWYER
DRAFTED: ECON:MMOTLEY
CLEARED: MGT:JAGNEW

VZCZCFRI579
RR RUEHC RUEHMT
DE RUEHFR #5872 2431605
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311605Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0922
INFO RUEHMT/AMCONSUL MONTREAL 0132
UNCLAS PARIS 005872 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR IO/T-TOBEY, L/DP-BENDA
MONTREAL FOR USICAO


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC ADPM EAIR AORC ICAO FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE: DEMARCHE ON AVIATION SECURITY, THE DIPLOMATIC POUCH
AND THE VIENNA CONVENTION

REF: A. SECSTATE 112194 B. SECSTATE 128260

NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION

UNCLAS PARIS 005872

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR IO/T-TOBEY, L/DP-BENDA
MONTREAL FOR USICAO


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC ADPM EAIR AORC ICAO FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE: DEMARCHE ON AVIATION SECURITY, THE DIPLOMATIC POUCH
AND THE VIENNA CONVENTION

REF: A. SECSTATE 112194 B. SECSTATE 128260

NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION


1. (SBU) Econoff delivered reftels' points August 10 to Luc
Lapene, head of the International Coordination Office at the French
Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC). Lapene indicated that France would
attend the Montreal ICAO AVSEC panel meeting, and would be
represented by one of DGAC's technical experts on aviation security,
Alexandre Crozat. In response to demarche, Lapene said that the
issue was well worth full discussion, but noted that it was
"complex." Referring to the previous day's news of the U.K.
terrorist plot to bomb airliners, he said that "things change," and
that discussion would have to take into account the fundamental
question of the trustworthiness of participants. Econoff underlined
that for the U.S. this was an issue of privileges and immunities
guaranteed by the Vienna Convention, and urged that DGAC coordinate
with MFA to ensure that this was fully reflected in the French
position.


2. (SBU) Management Officer and Information Management Officer
delivered points August 31 to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Acting
Protocol Director (Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities) Pierre
Filatoff, Deputy Director of Protocol Marie-Jeanne de Coquereaumont,
and Chief of Diplomatic Pouch Services Bruno Guerquin. Filatoff
advised that he would ensure the French delegation receives our
demarche. Filatoff and Coquereaumont assured us that the GOF is in
full agreement with the US position -- that the Vienna Convention
does not permit the opening nor detention of diplomatic pouches and
it supercedes guidance in the ICAO Security Manual. They noted that
it will be a fine point of discussion as to whether x-raying of
diplomatic pouches is equivalent to opening them. They pointed out,
however, that in the "spirit" of the Vienna Convention diplomatic
pouches should not be subject to x-raying. The GOF is therefore in
full agreement with our position.


3. (SBU) Diplomatic Pouch Chief Guerquin reminded us that the U.S.
has access to the tarmac at French airports, access the French do
not enjoy in the US. Guerquin noted that while the Vienna
Convention makes no distinction between classified and unclassified
pouches (the latter being unaccompanied and thus not fully
controlled by their government during shipment),the French see a
clear distinction between the two types of pouches, and seek to
ensure that classified pouches are not opened, detained, nor subject
to x-raying. He reiterated that the Vienna Convention does not make
the distinction between the two, but the accompanied (classified)
pouch is the greater matter of concern. Guerquin asked whether the
US would be changing its policy on aviation security in light of
recent developments. Management Off replied that we had not
obtained any guidance apart from the diplomatic pouch matter, and
thanked the MFA officials for their assistance and support of our
common position at the upcoming ICAO AVSEC Panel meetings.

STAPLETON