INDONESIA ICAO COUNCIL PART III CANDIDACY

UNCLAS JAKARTA 002596 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EB/TRA AND EAP/MTS DEPT FOR IO/T DEPT PASS FAA NATIONAL HQ DC DEPT FOR TSA HQ DC MONTREAL FOR U.S.MISSION TO ICAO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON ETRD ID SUBJECT: INDONESIA ICAO COUNCIL PART III CANDIDACY ¶1. (U) Post transmits the official correspondence from the Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs regarding its request for support for its candidacy on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Part III for the 2007-2010 time period. Please see the unofficial translation of the letter below. UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has the honor to remind the latter of the Government of Indonesia's request for the valuable support of United States of America for Indonesia's candidature to the Council of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Part III for the period of 2007-2010, at the elections to be held during the 36th General Assembly of ICAO in September 2007. The Government of the Republic of Indonesia views that air transport services are crucial to economic development and the improvement of living standards, particularly if viewed from the perspective of geographical and demographic challenges. Indonesia has a population of more than 220 million people spread over a vast archipelago of 17,000 islands. In concordance with Indonesia's current and forecasted economic growth, the scheduled passenger traffic is expected to continue growing from the total passenger traffic in 2006 of 34 million passengers. Therefore the Government is constrained to develop air transport infrastructure more thoroughly than roads and railways. Air transport infrastructures are needed to continue open up Indonesia's markets and thus provide its citizens with access to trade, human resources, natural resources and products. Nevertheless, Indonesia shares the view that it is imperative to create an environment in which international air transport may develop and flourish in an economical manner without risking or compromising safety and security. Thus, Indonesia understands the great importance of reforming the state of its aviation, particularly in the field of safety and security. In this regard, during the recent Strategic Aviation Safety Summit in Bali, the Government of Indonesia and ICAO have made a groundbreaking declaration in which Indonesia committed itself to wide ranging action for improving the safety of its civil aviation system and ICAO will lend the necessary support to ensure the implementations. To foster the healthy growth of Indonesia's civil aviation, the Government of Indonesia also understands the importance of engaging a larger multilateral cooperation in the field of aviation. Hence, Indonesia attaches great importance to being a member on the Council of ICAO. The Government believes that through membership on the council, Indonesia can play a responsible and constructive role in the sustainable development of a safe and secure international civil aviation. The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. September 6, 2007 Embassy of the United States of America Jakarta HUME