Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SANTODOMINGO2050
2007-08-30 16:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santo Domingo
Cable title:  

NEW DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION PLEDGES COOPERATION

Tags:  PREL BEXP EAID EAIR ICAO AORC DR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0026
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDG #2050 2421629
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301629Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9110
UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 002050 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PLEASE PASS TO IO/T: LAURA LUFTIG; AND EB/TRA/OTP:
MEGAN WALKLET-TIGHE; AND LAURA FAUX-GABLE AT USICAO MONTREAL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL BEXP EAID EAIR ICAO AORC DR
SUBJECT: NEW DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION PLEDGES COOPERATION
AND SEEKS ASSISTANCE

REF: A. A. SANTO DOMINGO 1850


B. B. SECSTATE 115443
UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 002050

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PLEASE PASS TO IO/T: LAURA LUFTIG; AND EB/TRA/OTP:
MEGAN WALKLET-TIGHE; AND LAURA FAUX-GABLE AT USICAO MONTREAL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL BEXP EAID EAIR ICAO AORC DR
SUBJECT: NEW DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION PLEDGES COOPERATION
AND SEEKS ASSISTANCE

REF: A. A. SANTO DOMINGO 1850


B. B. SECSTATE 115443

1.(U) The new director of the Dominican Civil Aviation
Institute (IDAC),Jose Tomas Perez, pledged continued
cooperation with the U.S. in a courtesy call with EconOff on
August 30 and requested assistance to upgrade the country's
air safety equipment. Specifically, Tomas agreed to consider
the U.S. candidate to the ICAO Council in September, and
although he said that he would have to consult with his team
prior to a final determination he saw no reason the Dominican
Republic would not support the U.S. candidate (Ref B). In
turn, he requested U.S. support for the Dominican candidate
to the ICAO council. In addition, Tomas addressed an August
7 letter from the Charge (Ref A),which expressed concern
about the safety and financial implications of the prolonged
breakdown of the Dominican Republic's radar system. Tomas
said that his top priority will be to repair the existing
radar and said he hoped the situation would be resolved
within the next month. Pressure has mounted to resolve this
issue expeditiously since the Dominican Pilots Association
publicly denounced IDAC's failure to resolve the situation
last week. Finally, Tomas expressed his desire to upgrade
the radar systems for the Dominican Republic and formally
requested U.S. assistance for the purchase of a new radar,
either in the form of a grant or in terms of a financing
arrangement. Comment: Given the high volume of U.S. air
carrier traffic to the Dominican Republic, the replacement
and upgrading of the radar system is clearly in the U.S.
interest. End Comment. (Note: Tomas is a former Senator and
a political director of the ruling Dominican Liberation
Party.)
BULLEN