AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH RUSSIAN TRANSPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 000327

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DEPT FOR EUR/RUS WARLICK AND HOLMAN
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAIR PREL RS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH RUSSIAN TRANSPORT
MINISTER LEVITIN


1. (SBU) Summary. In a January 24 meeting with the
Ambassador, Minister of Transportation Igor Levitin pressed
for resolution of the state flights issue and urged the next
round of bilateral civil aviation negotiations be held in
Moscow. He suggested that armed marshals on U.S. flights to
Russia might be possible under the auspices of an
intergovernmental agreement. He raised concerns about delays
in code-sharing between Sky Team members and Aeroflot and
problems faced by Aeroflot passengers transiting New York.
The Ministry is also ready to sign a rail equipment testing
agreement with the U.S. On passenger name recognition, a
formal agreement may be in order once amendments addressing
the legal gaps in the current arrangements pass the
legislature. Levitin urged Transportation Secretary Peters
to join him at the May European Ministerial on Transportation
Security in Europe, and reiterated his invitation to
Secretary Peters and TSA Administrator Hawley to come to

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Moscow immediately before the Ministerial for the proposed
DOT conference on ground transport. End Summary.

STATE FLIGHTS


2. (SBU) Levitin was well-versed in the details of the state
flights issue and was clear about his desire to see this
long-standing bilateral problem resolved. He complained that
the U.S. owes Russia navigation fees for more than 2000
flights. He welcomed next week's planned bilateral
consultations and said he hoped an agreement could be reached
soon.

CIVIL AVIATION NEGOTIATIONS


3. (SBU) Responding to a Russian request for bilateral civair
negotiations at the end of February in Moscow, the Ambassador
offered instead negotiations the week of March 26 in
Washington. Gennady Loschonov, chief civair negotiator for
the Russian side, replied that the last two rounds had been
in Washington. He and the Minister noted that the GOR would
prefer talks in Moscow, which the Ambassador agreed to relay.

PASSENGER NAME RECOGNITION (PNR)


4. (SBU) The Ambassador expressed appreciation for the
Minister's efforts to move PNR-related legislation through
the Duma. Levitin said that assuming his Ministry's proposed
amendments to the Russian Air Traffic Code become law, the
U.S. and Russia should pursue an official agreement to share
passenger data to take the place of the ad hoc arrangements
currently in force.

FLIGHT MARSHALS (FAMS)


5. (SBU) Levitin said that, like ICAO, the GOR believes armed
marshals on planes more of a security liability than an asset
and noted it is against Russian law for foreigners to carry
arms on airplanes. However, if the United States chooses to
press the issue, we could pursue a bilateral agreement on
flight marshals (such as Russia's with Israel) that would
permit U.S. flight marshals to be on board U.S. carrier
flights. He cautioned, however, that the Russian
inter-agency process preceding such a negotiation (which
would include the Ministries of Interior, Customs, and Border
Security) would likely be lengthy. He ruled out an exchange
of diplomatic notes or a Ministry-to-Department agreement on
FAMS, citing complications with the Russian inter-agency
process.

AEROFLOT-RELATED ISSUES


6. (SBU) Levitin expressed concern about delays in obtaining
code share approvals between Sky Team members and Aeroflot,
especially since Aeroflot already has such code shares with
airlines. He questioned whether there was unfair competition
at play and urged resolution. Levitin claimed Aeroflot was
being further disadvantaged since its Moscow-Washington-bound
passengers must first disembark in New York -- a process that

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added nearly four hours. The Ambassador noted that the
Department of Homeland Security is looking into the
possibility of "progressive clearance" for this Aeroflot
flight.

RAIL EQUIPMENT AGREEMENT
WITH US TESTING CENTER


7. (SBU) Levitin said that MOT was ready to sign an agreement
with the American Association of Railroads (AAR) Testing
Center in Pueblo, Colorado for testing of certain-types of
railroad equipment in the United States. MOT will issue an
invitation to AAR to come to Moscow at the end of February.
(Note: This agreement comes in response to a $300,000 TDA
grant approved for Russia in Fall 2005.)

SECURITY FORUM AT EUROPEAN CONFERENCE
OF MINISTERS OF TRANSPORT


8. (SBU) The Minister stressed his support for a
ministerial-level, international forum on transportation
security. He noted that last year in Tokyo, Ministers had
designated the annual European Conference of Ministers of
Transport (ECMT),scheduled for May 31, as the venue for the
forum. He urged Secretary Peters to accept his invitation to
participate.

DOT MOSCOW CONFERENCE ON GROUND TRANSPORT


9. (U) Levitin reiterated his Ministry's support for the
DOT-proposed conference on ground transport in Moscow in May.
This is envisioned as a high profile event with a
transportation security component. Levitin urged Secretary
Peters and TSA Administrator Hawley to accept his invitation
to participate. He suggested the conference be held May
28-29, immediately before the Sofia ECMT meeting so that
Peters and Hawley could participate in both.

COMMENT


10. (SBU) Levitin came back from his trip to the States (the
first ever for a Russian Minister of Transportation) clearly
buoyed by the experience and motivated to deepen bilateral
ties. He noted his good friendship with former Secretary
Mineta, a tradition he wants to continue with Secretary
Peters and Administrator Hawley. The fall 2006 visit to
Moscow by Deputy Secretary Cino and Levitin's reciprocal
visit to Washington has created some useful momentum on the
bilateral transportation front, and could help to unlock a
number of difficult issues on the agenda, including state
flights and FAMs, as well as lock in mutually beneficial
gains during this spring's civair talks. Post appreciates
Washington's continued efforts to provide prompt responses to
outstanding Russian questions.
BURNS