SEYCHELLES: REQUEST FOR L DECISION ON LANDING FEES

UNCLAS PORT LOUIS 000013 SENSITIVE SIPDIS AF/E FOR MARIA BEYZEROV; L/PM FOR PEGGY POPE AND MICHAEL MEIER; ANTANANARIVO FOR DAO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR PREL MASS MOPS SE SUBJECT: SEYCHELLES: REQUEST FOR L DECISION ON LANDING FEES REF: A. (A) POPE - BEYZEROV EMAIL 12/19/2009 ¶B. (B) PORT LOUIS 406 ¶C. (C) BLASER - HAINES EMAIL 12/9/2009 ¶D. (D) HOLDER - BEYZEROV EMAIL 11/12/2009 ¶E. (E) HOLDER - BEYZEROV EMAIL 9/30/2009 ¶F. (F) PORT LOUIS 205 ¶1. (U) This is an action message for L; please see paragraph ¶4. ¶2. (SBU) The U.S./Seychelles SOFA completed in 2009 was the first such agreement for Seychelles. As a result, the Government of Seychelles (GOS) and the commercial entities that are tasked with carrying out the day-to-day airport activities associated with military operations allowed under the SOFA are unfamiliar with the details required to implement the terms of the agreement. Seychelles International Airport is a commercial airport that is being used for both commercial and military operations. Air Seychelles (which is responsible for landing, handling, loading and other services at the airport) currently has one standard bill format that is presented to all incoming aircraft. (Please use this link to view bill samples: www.intelink.gov/go/41564) This standard bill includes fee options for all potential services. ¶3. (U) Some of the fee options on the standard bill (items such as landing and parking fees, which are specifically mentioned in Article 6(b) of the SOFA) are easily identifiable as fees that are waived under the terms of the SOFA. There are other fees, however, for services that Air Seychelles provides to U.S. military aircraft (such as cargo handling, motorized steps, container/pallet loaders, toilets/water servicing, etc.) that are not specifically addressed in the SOFA. ¶4. (U) Regarding U.S. military flights, Embassy to date has been operating on the policy (per interpretation of SOFA Article 6) that the fees for any items mentioned in (A) below should be waived, while the fees for any items in (B) below should be paid. Post requests that L confirm that this policy is the correct application of Article 6 in order to ensure that our interpretation of the fees to be paid is consistent with that of U.S. SOFAs worldwide. Response is requested by January 25. (A) Fees To Be Waived: Landing fee Night Surcharge Parking fee Passenger service fee Security service fee (B) Fees To Be Paid: Notification Traffic Attendance Engineering Attendance and Marshalling Passenger and Baggage Handling (per person arriving/departing) Cargo Handling Loadsheet and Operations Provision of General Declaration and Met Folder only Provision of Motorized or Non-Motorized Step Mobile conveyor Container/Pallet Loader (each) Forklift Crew Administration Transport Other (examples are ice, canisters, etc.) Duty Engineers Attendance Engineering Shift (times number of persons required) Ground Power Unit Air Start Unit Air Conditioning unit Toilet/Water/Cabin Service and Cleaning Push out Liftee Surcharge for above charges Credit Card Commission (if credit/purchase card is used) ¶5. (SBU) Upon receipt of the response requested in paragraph 4, Embassy will formalize this information with the GOS and Air Seychelles, thus providing clarity for the Air Seychelles accounts payable department and all U.S. military users of the airport. ¶6. (U) Embassy point of contact for this issue is Pol/Mil Officer Deanie Holder, holdera@state.gov or holderax@state.sgov.gov. WALKLEY