FAA RESPONSE TO RUSSIAN REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE

UNCLAS STATE 066778 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON RS SUBJECT: FAA RESPONSE TO RUSSIAN REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE ¶1. This is an Action request -- see para 3. ¶2. The Federal Aviation Administration requests that Embassy Moscow transmit the attached text to the appropriate Russian authorities in response to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs diplomatic note No. 2307 in which the GOR requests USG assistance collecting delinquent payments for commercial air carriers. ¶3. Begin text: The Embassy of the United States of America presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and has the honor to refer to Diplomatic Note No. 2307, dated May 26, 2008. As requested, the Embassy passed the information contained in the subject Diplomatic Note to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA has also spoken directly with the State ATM Corporation on this issue. Although the FAA is not involved in commercial debt collection, they have contacted the American users referenced in the Diplomatic Note via letter, calling their attention to the accumulated debt and asking them to contact the State ATM Corporation as soon as possible. They have additionally notified the users of the MFA statement that, until the issue is resolved, additional requests for use of Russian Federation airspace may not be accepted for consideration. Complimentary closing. End text of diplomatic note. RICE