SOUTH AFRICA: DEMARCHE IN SUPPORT OF U.S.

UNCLAS PRETORIA 000560 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS MONTREAL FOR USICAO DAKAR FOR FAA IO/T FOR LTOBEY EB/TRA/OTP FOR BMATTINGLEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ICAO PREL SF SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA: DEMARCHE IN SUPPORT OF U.S. CANDIDATE FOR ICAO SECRETARY GENERAL REF: A. STATE 14175 B. DAKAR 264 (NOTAL) ¶1. (SBU) Per Ref A, Post delivered January 31 demarche talking points in support of U.S. Candidate for ICAO Secretary General William Voss to the South Africa Department SIPDIS of Transport (DOT). DOT Deputy Director General for Transport Regulation and Public Entity Oversight, Ms. Nonkululeko Msomi, said that she was not aware of Mr. Voss' candidacy. Although not the official position of the South African government, she said it is most likely that South Africa will support the candidacy of incumbent Secretary General Dr. Taieb Cherif. Ms. Msomi stated that this position was being taken to show support for the African Union which would vote as a block. She then made an unsolicited comment that she had heard very good things about Mr. Voss and the work he is doing with ICAO. She corrected herself and said that actually she heard Mr. Voss is doing "exceptional" work with ICAO. Ms. Msomi stated that she would seek the official position regarding the support of the U.S. candidate from the Minister of Transport. Post will follow up with Ms. Msomi, who is currently unavailable due to travel. ¶2. (SBU) Post also delivered January 30 demarche points to the South African Department of Foreign Affair (DFA) Deputy Director of Multilateral Affairs. Post is following up with DFA to solicit a response. ¶3. (SBU) Per ref B, Post has requested appointments for FAA Senior Representative Edward Jones to meet with the Minister of Transport and with the Department of Foreign Affairs to present additional points in support of Mr. Voss' candidacy. TEITELBAUM