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