Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SARAJEVO2831
2006-11-13 18:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sarajevo
Cable title:  

CIVIL AVIATION OFFICIALS REFUSE TO CLEAR TUZLA

Tags:  PREL PGOV MARR BK 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVJ #2831 3171810
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 131810Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4814
INFO RUEKJCS/JCS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUFOAOA/USNIC SARAJEVO IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SARAJEVO 002831 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR (DICARLO),D (SMITH),P (BAME),EUR/SCE (HOH,
SAINZ, FOOKS),NSC FOR BRAUN, USNIC FOR WIGHTMAN, OSD FOR
JONES,

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR BK
SUBJECT: CIVIL AVIATION OFFICIALS REFUSE TO CLEAR TUZLA
AIRBASE CLOSURE NOTICE

REF: SARAJEVO 2139

Classified By: DCM Judith Cefkin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SARAJEVO 002831

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR (DICARLO),D (SMITH),P (BAME),EUR/SCE (HOH,
SAINZ, FOOKS),NSC FOR BRAUN, USNIC FOR WIGHTMAN, OSD FOR
JONES,

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR BK
SUBJECT: CIVIL AVIATION OFFICIALS REFUSE TO CLEAR TUZLA
AIRBASE CLOSURE NOTICE

REF: SARAJEVO 2139

Classified By: DCM Judith Cefkin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (SBU) Bosnia and Herzegovina Civil Aviation (BHCA)
authorities notified United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE)
November 10 that they had rejected the formal Notice to
Airman (NOTAM) announcing the discontinuation of air
operations at Tuzla Airbase, attached to Eagle Base. The
NOTAM reads "Effective 1 Dec 2006-- The U.S. will discontinue
airfield operations at 0001 hours on 1 Dec 2006. All
naviaids and atc radio frequencies will be disabled." In
follow-up conversations, BHCA officials stated that they
planned to approve the NOTAM later this week but wanted to
discuss "consequences" of ending operations at Tuzla airbase,
including the return of Bosnian equipment currently being
used by USAFE and which entity would monitor Bosnian airspace
once the Tuzla equipment went offline. To this end, BHCA
called for a meeting November 14 to discuss the matter with
representatives from the USAFE, EUFOR, the Ministry of
Defense (MOD),and the Ministry of Transport.


2. (SBU) The issuance of NOTAMs is required under the
International Convention on Civil Aviation when airfield
operations will undergo any alteration. Under existing
agreement, Tuzla Airbase must file all of its NOTAMs through
BHCA. It was the intention of USAFE to issue the NOTAM this
week, and any delay could hinder the ability to cease
operations at Tuzla as planned.


3. (C) Comment. The closure of Eagle Base has been a
difficult issue to work through with Bosnian authorities and
has taken on political significance. We have previously been
approached as to the feasibility of donating all airfield
operations equipment to Tuzla Canton for use at Tuzla
International Airport. The Ambassador recently responded to
requests from former President Tihic (see reftel) and
Federation Prime Minister Hadzipasic to open negotiations on
potential equipment transfers to Tuzla Civil Aviation
authorities and informed them that all discussions would be
conducted through the MOD. Last week, USAFE presented the
MOD with the list of equipment that would be available for
donation, which would not be enough to run airport operations
by itself. If the Bosnian government or Tuzla Canton were
unable to augment the donation with further acquisitions, air
operations at Tuzla would cease. The rejection of the NOTAM
could signal a backdoor attempt by Bosnian authorities to
engage in further discussions about the future of Eagle Base
and Tuzla International Airport or drag out the closure of
the airfield. End comment.
MCELHANEY