NEW DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION PLEDGES COOPERATION

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 002051 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