OPEN SKIES AGREEMENT A "STRONG POSSIBILITY"

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000335

SIPDIS

WHA/CAR FOR JROSHOLT AND RRAGIN
EEB/TRA/AN FOR VLIMAYE-DAVIS
DOT FOR BHEDBERG
DOC FOR MICHELLE BROOKS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR KTIA XL NS
SUBJECT: OPEN SKIES AGREEMENT A "STRONG POSSIBILITY"

REF: A) SECSTATE 81957;
B) UTSCHIG/MENSCHER/FRANGIE/HORWTIZ/LIMAYE-DAVIS /HEDBERG EMAILS JULY
2007-JULY 2008;
C) 07 PARAMARIBO 622;
D) 07 STATE 146737;
E) 07 PARAMARIBO 558;
F) 06 PARAMARIBO 80;
G) 03 PARAMARIBO 669.


1. (U) Summary. Terence Craig, Head of the Americas Division at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said there is a "strong
possibility" the Government of Suriname (GOS) would sign a bilateral
Open Skies agreement. Craig, a long-time fan of an Open Skies
agreement, may not reflect a consolidated position, but his comments
are an additional indicator the GOS could be receptive to the
liberalization of the aviation sector through an individual,
bilateral Open Skies agreement. The true test remains if Minister
Apinsa, of Transportation, Communication and Tourism, reinstalls the
Aviation Advisory Team to review the proposed text of the agreement.
End Summary.


2. (U) On August 14, EconOff met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MFA) Head of the Americas Division Terence Craig to present the
demarche on a bilateral Open Skies agreement. EconOff also provided
by DipNote a request that copies of the information sheets and draft
text of an Open Skies agreement be forwarded to the Ministry of
Transportation, Communication and Tourism (TCT).


3. (U) Craig told EconOff the proposal for a bilateral Open Skies
agreement is not new to him, and said there is a "strong
possibility" the Government of Suriname (GOS) would sign an Open
Skies agreement now that Surinam Airways (SLM) is beginning regular
flights to Miami. The GOS signed an agreement with the Netherlands
on the mid-Atlantic route just a few years ago, he added. The GOS
is interested in Open Skies, he continued, not just with the United
States but also with other nations in the region.


4. (U) Discussion of an Open Skies agreement would be a great "next
bilateral project" for the TCT, Craig suggested, after the inaugural
SLM flight to Miami via Aruba (Note: This flight is scheduled for
August 25, 2008. End Note). Craig stressed that, as with all GOS
business, this Open Skies project will take time, but quantified his
statement by adding "but not in years, in months."


5. (U) During a separate conversation between EconAsst and Director
of Civil Aviation Vivian Hanenberg, Hanenberg said the TCT had a
copy of the standard Open Skies agreement text, and he had advised
Minister Apinsa to reinstall her Aviation Advisory Team to review
the document and advise on whether the document was acceptable or
required adjustments. (Note: This is the same Team that worked on
the bilateral Open Skies agreement between Suriname and the
Netherlands. End Note.) Hanenberg could not provide information on
whether the Minister had installed or planned to reinstall the Team,
however. He said that he knew the signing of an agreement is
"months away" and would require negotiations.


6. (U) Comment. Craig, a long-time fan of an Open Skies agreement
(Reftel C),made statements that may not reflect a consolidated GOS
position. That said, combined with information from Reftel A, his
comments are a good indicator that both the MFA and TCT may be on
board to begin discussions on the text of a bilateral Open Skies
agreement. Whether Minister Apinsa convenes the Aviation Advisory
Team to review the proposed text, however, remains the key indicator
of sincere GOS interest in the U.S. proposal. End Comment.

SCHREIBER HUGHES