DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO SPAIN ON ICAO MONTREAL

UNCLAS MADRID 002051 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN, L, EB, IO/T, MONTREAL FOR USICAO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAIR ICAO KNNP OTRA KTIA PARM XX SP SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO SPAIN ON ICAO MONTREAL CONVENTION AMENDMENT REF: STATE 149107 ¶1. (SBU) EconOff delivered reftel demarche on October 29 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Deputy Director for Economic Multilateral Relations Juan Luis Munoz de Laborde as well as to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works' Deputy Directorate for Civil Aviation Operations. Both Ministries were unaware of the proposal to amend the Montreal Convention by prohibiting the unauthorized transport via civil aircraft of explosives and weapons of mass destruction (WMD),and other materials, equipment, and technology related to WMD. ¶2. (U) EconOff forwarded the text of the amendment to both Ministries on October 30, noting that the U.S. would be supporting this proposal during the upcoming November discussions in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) council. EconOff requested Spain's support on this added civil aviation security measure. ¶3. (SBU) Jose Manuel Puente, ICAO security lead from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works and MFA's Juan Luis Munoz de Laborde commented that although in principal Spain is interested in strengthening civil aviation security measures, they would be unable to comment on Spain's support for the amendment until they had an opportunity to analyze the proposal and vet it through the appropriate channels. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works' Directorate of Civil Aviation leads Spain's efforts on all ICAO matters in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Post will follow up with both entities in the upcoming weeks. AGUIRRE