AUSTRIA EXPRESSES TENTATIVE SUPPORT FOR WILLIAM

UNCLAS VIENNA 000282 SIPDIS SIPDIS, SENSITIVE STATE FOR IO/T (LTOBEY),EB/TRA/OTP (BMATTINGLEY),AND EUR/AGS USEU FOR FAA (PFELDMAN) PARIS FOR FAA (LLIU) MONTREAL FOR USMISSION ICAO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAIR ICAO AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIA EXPRESSES TENTATIVE SUPPORT FOR WILLIAM VOSS' CANDIDACY REFS: A) STATE 12863 B) STATE 11373 ¶1. (SBU) During his January 20 visit to Vienna, FAA Director for Europe and the Middle East Paul Feldman called on GoA officials to urge Austrian support for William D. Voss, U.S. candidate for ICAO Secretary General. Alois Kraut, Head of the MFA's Transportation Unit; Dieter Gauptmann, Acting Director of the Ministry of Transportation's (MoT) Air Transport Affairs Division; and Manfred Bialonczyk, Civil Aviation Director General in the MoT. Post conveyed ref B talking points to Kraut and Bialonczyk on January 27. Kraut told us January 27 that the GoA has not yet reached a final decision to support Voss, but that it is predisposed to back his candidacy. Kraut and Bialonczyk praised Voss' technical and managerial skills, and noted he has the reputation to carry through reform within ICAO. Kraut and Bialonczyk asked for USG support for Philippe Rochat, the Swiss candidate for President of the ICAO Council. Post will follow up with Kraut to obtain a formal statement of the GoA position. ¶2. (U) FAA Brussels cleared on this message. MCCAW