Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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07BANGKOK6029 | 2007-12-04 02:26:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Bangkok |
1. (C) Thailand is working to resolve the issue of airline safety highlighted by the FAA in an assessment last July, Transport Minister Thira told the Ambassador during a farewell call November 29. The Transport Ministry is also committed to keeping the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport open during late night hours, when U.S. airlines arrive, despite noise-related protests from local residents. The Minister said he would look into why General Electric has not been paid for bomb detection scanners at the airport. Both sides are looking forward to resumption of full bilateral ties following completion of free and fair elections December 23. End Summary. 2. (C) On November 29, the Ambassador paid a farewell call on Transport Minister Admiral Thira Hao-Charoen. The Ambassador told the Transport Minister that if next month,s elections are free and fair, the United States should be able to lift the remaining aid restrictions. An advisor to the Minister noted that U.S. Trade Development Agency (USTDA) aid was suspended following the coup, but they hope it will be reinstated after the elections. The advisor said that USTDA had approved a technical assistance grant to the Thai Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning for a &smart corridor8 to Suvarnabhumi Airport to improve transportation access to the airport. Admiral Thira added that he looked forward to restoring full military-to-military relations after the elections. FAA ASSESSMENT -------------------------- 3. (C) The Ambassador informed the Minister that the Embassy has received the results of the FAA safety assessment for Thailand. The Minister said the MoT is working to resolve the issue of concern. He underscored the importance of adhering to safety standards (Note: Econoff is scheduled to deliver the formal report to the Director General of Civil Aviation on December 4 as per ref. A instructions. End note.) LATE-NIGHT NOISE POLLUTION AT SUVARNABHUMI -------------------------- 4. (C) The Ambassador then turned to the issue of late-night noise pollution at Suvarnabhumi airport. (Note: Residents in the area around Suvarnabhumi recently filed a lawsuit in an administrative court requesting that the airport be closed between the hours of 10:00 pm and 5:00 am. Nearly all flights on U.S. carriers arrive within this timeframe. End note.) The Minister said that this is currently a big issue and that the Ministry is working with Airports of Thailand (AOT) on negotiations to compensate affected residents fairly so that the airport can remain open during the time in question. U.S. AIRLINES GET CONTACT GATES--SOMETIMES -------------------------- 5. (C) While on the topic of aviation, the Ambassador reminded the Minister that American-owned carriers still are not often assigned contact gates for arrivals at Suvarnabhumi Airport, which forces passengers at the end of a long flight to walk down stairs and board a bus instead of simply walking into the airport via contact gate. The Minister said he would ask his staff to look into the matter. CTX SCANNERS: STILL NO PAYMENT -------------------------- 6. (C) The Ambassador told the Minister that although Airports of Thailand (AOT) has paid the company that holds the management contract for Suvarnabhumi Airport, ITO Joint Venture Group (whose core partner is Italian-Thai Development Plc) for the CTX bomb detection scanners, ITO has still not transferred the money to GE. Now GE has said they will draw down services starting December 6 and will turn off services as of December 10 if they do not receive payment. Although he said he was not familiar with the details of the dispute, the Minister said he understood there had been problems in the negotiations and the MoT would like to help resolve the situation. CARGO TRANSPORT TO LAEM CHABANG PORT -------------------------- 7. (C) Turning to infrastructure issues, the Ambassador told the Minister that the AmCham community is concerned about the BANGKOK 00006029 002 OF 002 situation of the rail link between the Port of Laem Chabang and the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Lat Krabang. (Note: At a meeting in March, Office of Transport Policy and Planning Director General Maitree Srinarawat said that a lease extension agreement between State Railway of Thailand and the ICD at Lat Krabang had been reached in principle and that signing of the leases would follow soon. (ref. B) To date, the leases have not been signed. End note.) An advisor to the Minister explained that the MoT plans to have a single manager contract to oversee the movement of cargo between the two locations. This will start next July. MoT policy, he said, is to ensure safe, efficient transfer of cargo and to make Laem Chabang a world class port. As to the double track railway to relieve cargo congestion out of Laem Chabang, he said it will be at least three more years until it is completed. BOYCE |