U.S. CANDIDATE FOR ICAO SECRETARY GENERAL:

UNCLAS SINGAPORE 000404 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/T: L TOBEY STATE FOR EB/TRA/OPT: B MATTINGLY MONTREAL FOR USICAO: C SERWER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAIR ICAO AORC AS CA FI HU JA KS SN UK SUBJECT: U.S. CANDIDATE FOR ICAO SECRETARY GENERAL: DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: STATE 15012 ¶1. (SBU) Emboff delivered reftel demarche to Singapore International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Representative Bong Kim Pin on February 10, following a personal representation by Singapore-based FAA Asia Pacific Director Nancy Graham to Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore Deputy Director General Chiang Hai Eng. Post has also raised this matter with the Ministries of Transport and Foreign Affairs. ¶2. (SBU) Representative Bong frankly told us that, while Singapore favors Bill Voss for ICAO Secretary General, they will be unable to support him openly; Bong offered no firm commitment on Singapore's final vote. He said he believes that Voss has the backing of the "non-biased" members of ICAO, but added that this election is likely to be highly politicized. He noted that any winning candidate might find it difficult to move forward an ICAO divided along regional lines, though many ICAO members think Voss is the nominee most capable of doing so. ¶3. (SBU) Per Reftel, Bong confirmed that he has a strong relationship with the South African ICAO delegation and that the South Africans have some influence over other nations in that region. When asked, he offered to share the talking points with the South Africans but cautioned that Singapore must weigh its election decision against the long-term consequences supporting the U.S. candidate could have on its interactions with other ICAO members. Bong also opined that the U.S. practice of paying ICAO dues off schedule could hurt Voss's candidacy. HERBOLD