Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DOHA197
2009-03-19 14:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Doha
Cable title:  

TSA LAYS OUT A PATH TO SUCCESS OR FAILURE FOR

Tags:  EAIR ASEC QA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3914
PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR
DE RUEHDO #0197/01 0781400
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 191400Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8866
INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 0732
RUEHFT/AMCONSUL FRANKFURT PRIORITY 2271
RHMFISS/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/TSA HQ WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DOHA 000197 

SIPDIS

AMMAN FOR TSAR BRYANT CHEVALIER
ABU DHABI FOR FAA REP ROY BARNETT AND ICE
FRANKFURT FOR TSA OFFICE
STATE FOR EEB/JOHN BYERLY AND BRIAN SILER
STATE FOR DS, DSS, DS/T/ATA, AND DS/IP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2019
TAGS: EAIR ASEC QA
SUBJECT: TSA LAYS OUT A PATH TO SUCCESS OR FAILURE FOR
QATAR,S FLIGHTS TO THE U.S.

REF: A. DOHA 32

B. 2008 DOHA 820

C. 2008 DOHA 868

Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

--------------
(C) KEY POINTS
--------------

-- A senior TSA delegation told the leaders of Qatar's
aviation sector March 18 that the U.S. and Qatar are at a
crossroads on aviation security.

-- If the TSA inspection team arriving next week finds
security standards are being met, TSA committed itself to
return four times within twelve months to ensure these
standards are sustained. If they are sustained, TSA will
recommend to the Secretary of Homeland Security removal of
the Doha-specific Emergency Amendment requirement for 100
percent screening of hand-carry baggage via x-ray and
physical search.

-- If the team finds security standards are not being met,
TSA will recommend to the Secretay of Homeland Security
public notification of Doha International Airport as an
airport that does not meet minimum security standards and/or
the suspension of flights to the U.S. (The Secretary of State
must also concur with implementation of any sanction).

-----------
(C) COMMENT
-----------

-- The MOI clearly understands the importance of next week's
assessment, and it is on that ministry that the most
egregious deficiencies fall most square. Adequate screening
(proper alarm resolution, female search, staffing, and
supervision) will be key to success.

-- Senior Qatari officials continue to assert in formal
meetings that they are meeting International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) standards. It is possible that
lower-level officials are preventing information flow to the
principals, though we have told these officials multiple
times their screening does not meet ICAO standards (as judged
by TSA),a message they have also reportedly heard from ICAO
itself, though perhaps in more diplomatic language.

-- The TSA visit comes at an important time, as direct Qatar
Airways flights to Houston (the airline's third U.S.
destination) start March 30.

-- Embassy strongly supports the TSA idea of establishing a
TSAR position in Doha. This would cement positive
cooperation in aviation security as Qatar Airways expands its
U.S. routes and global connections.

End Key Points and Comment.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DOHA 000197

SIPDIS

AMMAN FOR TSAR BRYANT CHEVALIER
ABU DHABI FOR FAA REP ROY BARNETT AND ICE
FRANKFURT FOR TSA OFFICE
STATE FOR EEB/JOHN BYERLY AND BRIAN SILER
STATE FOR DS, DSS, DS/T/ATA, AND DS/IP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2019
TAGS: EAIR ASEC QA
SUBJECT: TSA LAYS OUT A PATH TO SUCCESS OR FAILURE FOR
QATAR,S FLIGHTS TO THE U.S.

REF: A. DOHA 32

B. 2008 DOHA 820

C. 2008 DOHA 868

Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

--------------
(C) KEY POINTS
--------------

-- A senior TSA delegation told the leaders of Qatar's
aviation sector March 18 that the U.S. and Qatar are at a
crossroads on aviation security.

-- If the TSA inspection team arriving next week finds
security standards are being met, TSA committed itself to
return four times within twelve months to ensure these
standards are sustained. If they are sustained, TSA will
recommend to the Secretary of Homeland Security removal of
the Doha-specific Emergency Amendment requirement for 100
percent screening of hand-carry baggage via x-ray and
physical search.

-- If the team finds security standards are not being met,
TSA will recommend to the Secretay of Homeland Security
public notification of Doha International Airport as an
airport that does not meet minimum security standards and/or
the suspension of flights to the U.S. (The Secretary of State
must also concur with implementation of any sanction).

--------------
(C) COMMENT
--------------

-- The MOI clearly understands the importance of next week's
assessment, and it is on that ministry that the most
egregious deficiencies fall most square. Adequate screening
(proper alarm resolution, female search, staffing, and
supervision) will be key to success.

-- Senior Qatari officials continue to assert in formal
meetings that they are meeting International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) standards. It is possible that
lower-level officials are preventing information flow to the
principals, though we have told these officials multiple
times their screening does not meet ICAO standards (as judged
by TSA),a message they have also reportedly heard from ICAO
itself, though perhaps in more diplomatic language.

-- The TSA visit comes at an important time, as direct Qatar
Airways flights to Houston (the airline's third U.S.
destination) start March 30.


-- Embassy strongly supports the TSA idea of establishing a
TSAR position in Doha. This would cement positive
cooperation in aviation security as Qatar Airways expands its
U.S. routes and global connections.

End Key Points and Comment.


1. (U) Four TSA officials visited Doha March 15-19 to
follow-up on a joint action plan to improve Qatar's aviation
security as agreed to by Qatari representatives during their
mid-February visit to Washington. The TSA officials included
the TSA HQ Middle East area director Carlos De La Torre, TSA
regional representative Bryant Chevalier, the TSA HQ
representative for foreign air carrier liaison Craig Lynes,
and manager of assessment teams based at the Frankfurt
regional office Anthony Monreal.


2. (U) The March 18 meeting included Minister of State for
Internal Affairs (de facto Minister of Interior) Sheikh
Abdullah Bin Nasser Al Thani, Chairman of the Qatar Civil
Aviation Authority Abdulaziz Al-Noaimi, and Qatar Airways CEO
Akbar Al-Baker. Also attending were MOI Director of Airport
Security Brigadier Nasser Al-Malki and QCAA Advisor Ian
Gilchrist. (Note: Paras 4-13 cover that meeting).


3. (U) A separate March 19 meeting with the TSA team was
attended by Sheikh Abdullah, Al-Malki, his deputy Colonel

DOHA 00000197 002.3 OF 003


Essa Al-Rumaihi, and two officials from the State Security
unit assigned to the airport. (See paras 14-18 for a readout
of that meeting).

Regional Position in Doha a Sign of USG Commitment
-------------- --------------


4. (C) TSA presented the message noted in "key points" above
in the context of the USG's objective to see flights to the
U.S. succeed. Ambassador noted that the intent on both sides
is to see strong aviation security. He added he was
encouraged by the idea of putting a new regional TSA hub
position in Doha and this will help support cooperation as
Qatar's civil aviation sector expands. Al-Baker affirmed
that his airline wants to expand in the U.S. Al-Noaimi noted
that the Prime Minister supports the idea of a regional TSA
office in Doha and thinks we should move forward.

Qatar Outlines Recent Improvements
--------------


5. (C) The Qatari side did not/not respond specifically to
the two paths presented by TSA. Rather, they outlined the
areas where they have made improvements and affirmed their
commitment to meeting security standards and working
cooperatively with TSA. (Note: The Qataris also noted that no
signal was intended by Al-Malki's last minute absence from
the February Washington consultations - he was merely
required to return to Doha for another commitment.)


6. (C) Al-Noaimi said that as an ICAO signatory, Qatar's goal
is to meet ICAO standards and Qatar had adopted some good
measures to achieve them. He added that the Qatari side
would cooperate fully with the TSA team next week and any
faults or findings will be corrected immediately.


7. (C) Gilchrist reviewed the improvement measures taken
recently: redesign of checkpoints, enhanced training
procedures, addition of personnel to the checkpoints, and the
start of QCAA audits of airport security. Gilchrist
acknowledged the results of the audits were "mixed" but
assured the TSA inspection team will see a big change next
week.


8. (C) Al-Baker said Qatar has been striving to make all
changes necessary to meet TSA's concerns. He cited recent
removal of the premium terminal screening bus (and
replacement with a fixed checkpoint). Al-Baker added that
the airport had recently revised its staff screening
procedures in accordance with a QCAA directive so that staff
and passengers will be screened and held separately.

Screening the Key Deficiency
--------------


9. (C) Al-Malki repeated well-worn assertions that past TSA
inspectors had seemed happy with Qatar's security measures
and judged that Qatar was meeting the standards.


10. (C) In response, De La Torre acknowledged TSA had seen
advances in training, checkpoints, and other areas, but
reminded the Qatari side that TSA had consistently found
deficiencies in implementation of ICAO standards. The
Emergency Amendment is in place to address those deficiencies
and removal of extra requirements will only happen when TSA
is satisfied that ICAO standards are being met at all
checkpoints.


11. (C) Chevalier added that the action plan agreed to by
Qatar covers these deficiencies in detail and Qatar should be
clear that ICAO standards are not being met at any of the
checkpoints (primary, transfer, and the departure gate for
flights to the U.S.). Gilchrist affirmed that Qatar's
efforts are now focused on raising the level of screening at
all areas.

TSA Recommends Qatar Airways Work With Other Carriers
to Stop Passengers Arriving in Doha with Prohibited Items
-------------- --------------


DOHA 00000197 003.3 OF 003



12. (C) At the end of the meeting, TSA passed a letter to
Al-Noaimi outlining the agency's response to the QCAA's
repeated letters expressing distress about passengers who
have arrived in Doha with firearms and other prohibited items
in their hold baggage. (Note: Such incidents are confusing
to the Qataris because such checked firearms do not violate
U.S. laws or TSA procedures, though they are a violation of
Qatari customs laws prohibiting importation of firearms into
Qatar. TSA is under no obligation in the U.S. to stop
transport of such items).


13. (C) The TSA letter outlines two recommendations:

-- Development of an interline baggage agreement between
Qatar Airways and other passenger carriers. The agreement
would allow Qatar Airways to ascertain from other air
carriers, before accepting interline checked baggage, whether
the baggage contains a firearm that was declared at the
originating airport.

-- Development of a Customs notification process by Qatar
Airways for its flights from the U.S. to Qatar, through which
a kiosk or customer service representative will ask each
passenger if he or she has a firearm to declare.

MOI Asks for Instant Feedback, Current Assessment Only
-------------- --------------


14. (C) In a March 19 meeting for the TSA team at the
airport, pre-arranged with Al-Malki, Minister of Interior
Sheikh Abdullah surprised the group with his attendance,
underscoring the senior Qatari interest in addressing TSA's
concerns. De La Torre reiterated the points made a day
earlier: that the USG wants to see flights succeed but next
week's assessment visit is crucial. A favorable assessment
will result in further teams returning to ensure
sustainability, while an unfavorable assessment will result
in public notice and/or suspension of flights.


15. (C) De La Torre also explained TSA's use of joint action
plans with countries of concern. Al-Malki confirmed he had a
copy of the plan and was working on those areas under MOI's
purview. De La Torre underscored that the two most
significant items for MOI, as found by past inspection teams
as deficient are:

-- ICAO SARP 4.2.6 covering screening of staff and their
accessible property.
-- ICAO SARP 4.4.1 and 4.4.2 covering screening of
originating and transfer passengers and their cabin baggage.


16. (C) De La Torre underscored that TSA's concern is not
just at the boarding gate for U.S. flights but at all the
primary screening checkpoints in the airport, including those
for originating and transfer passengers.


17. (C) Al-Malki acknowledged these points and asked that the
TSA inspectors give "good feedback, instantly" if they find
problems during their assessment. He continued that he wants
the team to tell the MOI right away if they are observing
problems and not just put the observations in a report later.
He also requested that the team assess only a current
snapshot of the airport security operations without prejudice
to what has been observed in the past.


18. (C) De La Torre and Monreal affirmed that this would
continue to be the team's modus operandi. Chevalier added
that the team is planning to conduct a full ICAO assessment
and the final product will be a snapshot of the airport's
aviation security posture as it stands next week.


19. (U) The TSA team has cleared this message.

LeBaron