ICAO/PSI - MFA CONTINUES TO LOBBY TRANSPORTATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 002202 SIPDIS SIPDIS, ISN, L, EEB, IO, EUR MONTREAL FOR USICAO E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2017 TAGS: AORC EAIR KNNP KTIA OTRA PARM ICAO GM SUBJECT: ICAO/PSI - MFA CONTINUES TO LOBBY TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY REF: A. BERLIN 2019 ¶B. STATE 149107 Classified By: Global Affairs Counselor Donald R. Shemanski for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On December 13, MFA Nuclear Arms Control and Nonproliferation Division Desk Officer Thomas Muetzelburg provided emboffs with a readout of ongoing German interagency discussions on whether to support including transportation offenses related to WMD proliferation in the Montreal Convention amendment. Muetzelburg reiterated the MFA's strong support for including WMD-related offenses, but noted the Transportation Ministry remains skeptical, primarily because officials there do not see much practical effect to the measures. Muetzelburg reported that representatives of the MFA and German security services continue to stress the strong political and deterrent effects of the measure. He noted that Transportation Ministry officials tend to focus domestically and had not considered the global implications. Muetzelburg expressed optimism that the Transportation Ministry would soon agree either to support the measure or at a minimum not to block the measure. ¶2. (C) Muetzelburg cautioned against another Embassy approach to the Transportation Ministry (see ref A),suggesting it was better to give time for the MFA's arguments to sink in. Muetzelburg expects the German Government to arrive at a "consolidated position" by the end of the year. In response to a question, Muetzelburg stated the Ministries of Economics and Finance had not taken a position on the issue. He agreed to keep us apprised of any significant internal developments. TIMKEN JR