CYPRUS: ICAO ASSEMBLY: SOLICITING SUPPORT FOR KEY U.S.

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000553 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/T, EB/TRA, AND EUR/SE MONTREAL FOR U.S. MISSION TO ICAO FAA FOR JIM FILIPPATOS AND DI REIMOLD TSA FOR JILLENE MACREERY SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON ETRD EUN CY SUBJECT: CYPRUS: ICAO ASSEMBLY: SOLICITING SUPPORT FOR KEY U.S. POSITIONS REFS: (A) STATE 77572, (B) STATE 83246 (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Per A and B requests, Post delivered on June 11 and June 25 demarches on key U.S. positions at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) General Assembly in Montreal Canada, September 18-27, 2007 to Alexandros Zenon, Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We also delivered copies to Makis Constantinides, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Works, and Dr. Leonidas Leonidou, Director, Civil Aviation Department. Post also followed up in person with Dr. Leonidou on June 13 and June 29. ¶2. (SBU) Leonidou reported that, in general, the GoC was sympathetic to the U.S. positions but as an EU member would support the yet-to-be-determined EU common position. EU member states would begin to discuss what positions to take in Montreal at the July 9 European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) meeting. Leonidou noted that as an island state completely dependent on air travel, Cyprus was especially sympathetic to U.S. concerns about the inclusion of non-EU carriers into the EU's aviation emissions trading scheme. Leonidou promised to raise U.S. concerns on the need for mutual consent in future EU aviation meetings. SCHLICHER