DEMARCHE ON ICAO ASSEMBLY DELIVERED

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 001988 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/T AND EB/TRA FAA FOR J.FILIPPATOS, D.REIMOLD, AND C.BURLESON DHS FOR TSA:J.MACCREERY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON ETRD SENV ET SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON ICAO ASSEMBLY DELIVERED REF: A. STATE 83246 (NOTAL) ¶B. STATE 77572 (NOTAL) ¶C. ADDIS ABABA 421 (NOTAL) ¶1. Poloff delivered demarche points (refs A-B) on June 22 to MFA desk officer for the United States, Third Secretary Adam Tesfaye, and to MFA Counsellor/Head for UN Principal Organs Fund and Programming, Lulit Zewdie Gebremariam. ¶2. Zewdie provided no detailed substantive response regarding GOE positions on specific ICAO issues but noted that Teferra Mekonnen, Ethiopia's representative to ICAO, reported that talks with USG counterparts on ICAO-related issues and working papers were ongoing and positive. ¶3. COMMENT: Post anticipates that Ethiopia will support U.S. safety-related positions (ref B) at ICAO, as the GOE is a strong proponent of international aviation issues. The GOE has formally informed the USG that it seeks reelection to the ICAO Council (GOE's note verbale dated May 29 has been forwarded via email to AF/E, IO/T and FAA),having been elected previously in 2001 and again in 2004. The GOE also has a key interest in maintaining the FAA Category I status of Ethiopian Airlines, a state-run monopoly which includes Foreign Minister Seyoum among its board of directors (ref C). Ethiopia Airlines' purchase of USD 1.8 billion in advanced Boeing commercial airliners represents the largest U.S. commercial export to Ethiopia. END COMMENT. YAMAMOTO