ICAO ASSEMBLY: TURKEY INTERESTED IN SUPPORT BUT STILL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001644 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/T AND EB/TRA AMCONSUL MONTREAL FOR USICAO FAA HQ FOR JFILIPPATOS, DREIMOLD & CBURLESON TSA HQ FOR JMACCREERY SIPDIS PARIS FOR TSA NLARBI BRUSSELS FOR FAA KEDWARDS SENSITIVE SIPRNET E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ETRD ECON TU SUBJECT: ICAO ASSEMBLY: TURKEY INTERESTED IN SUPPORT BUT STILL FORMULATING POSITIONS Ref: A) STATE 77572 B) STATE 83246 This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. This is an action cable. Please see paragraph 12. ¶2. (SBU) Summary: According to MFA civil aviation officials, Turkey is interested in supporting several of the U.S. positions at the upcoming ICAO General Assembly, but Turkish officials will begin to meet in the next few weeks to formulate positions. MFA Civil Aviation Head Hamit Olcay also told us that, while Turkey will make its final decisions based on national interest, as a general rule it is best not to push Turkish officials to openly disagree or object to EU initiatives and positions. He added, however, that U.S. policymakers should view Turkey as an ally who could help persuade EU officials at the meetings, and therefore he urged U.S. representatives at the ICAO assembly to maintain close communication with the Turkish delegation during the discussions. End summary. ¶3. (SBU) While Turkish civil aviation officials have not yet met to discuss the September 2007 ICAO General Assembly, MFA Civil Aviation Head Hamit Olcay gave us an overview of their initial reaction to our reftel requests. Responses below are keyed to correspond with the specific items listed in ref A and ref B: ¶4. (SBU) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP): Turkish officials are comfortable with the general ideas expressed by the U.S. position, but before agreeing to cosponsor the U.S. working paper, Olcay asked to see a draft that he could distribute to the relevant Turkish officials. ¶5. (SBU) Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST): Turkey agrees with the EU's reservations about making personal passenger information available, but policymakers are open to considering the U.S.'s argument. If the argument is persuasive, Turkey could partner with the U.S. to try to influence EU partners. ¶6. (SBU) Regional Safety Oversight: Olcay noted that Turkey already cooperates with EuroControl. He asked for additional clarification on how the U.S. envisions ICAO's role and jurisdiction over these regional oversight organizations. ¶7. (SBU) GPS-SPS/WAAS Availability: Turkey has no comment on this proposal at this time. ¶8. (SBU) Universal Security Audit Program (USAP): Turkey supports all efforts to improve security and underwent an audit two years ago. However, what information will be shared, with whom, and how, must be clarified before Turkey can support such a proposal. ¶9. (SBU) Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Turkey firmly believes that ICAO has no involvement on issues dealing with military UASs. Olcay added that the meaning of UAS must be more clearly defined before Turkey can support this position. ¶10. (SBU) Halon Replacement: According to Olcay, prior to receiving this information, he had never heard of the halon replacement issue. Turkey has not yet formulated a position, but he suggested that further clarification would be useful as to who would bear the cost of this replacement and whether or not the units currently used would be phased out or required on new and/or existing aircraft. ¶11. (SBU) Environmental issues (ref B): Turkey agrees with the ideas presented in ref B in principle but has not yet formulated a position. In general it supports all programs intending to benefit the environment. However, some of the concepts presented, such as emissions trading, are new to Turkish officials and will require further discussion. ¶12. (SBU) Action request: Post would appreciate FAA and Department's assistance in providing timely feedback and clarification, as available, on the following items: a) Provide copy of USOAP Working Paper; b) Provide additional information about the U.S. position on CAST; c) Provide additional clarification on the regional safety oversight proposal; d) Provide additional clarification on the USAP proposal; e) Provide additional clarification on the UAS proposal; f) Provide additional clarification on the halon replacement proposal. ¶13. We agreed to meet with Olcay again closer to the date of the General Assembly when Turkish positions on the issues will be clearer. In the interim, we stand ready to pass on additional information as it becomes available. Wilson