Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10RIGA93
2010-02-26 11:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riga
Cable title:
AIRBALTIC CEO UNHAPPY ABOUT IRAN; WANTS USG HELP TO START
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHRA #0093 0571128 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 261128Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY RIGA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0087 INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0001 RUEHRA/AMEMBASSY RIGA RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 0001
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000093
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2035/02/26
TAGS: PREL IR IZ SA LG
SUBJECT: AIRBALTIC CEO UNHAPPY ABOUT IRAN; WANTS USG HELP TO START
FLIGHTS TO IRAQ AND SAUDI ARABIA
REF: RIGA 70; RIGA 73
CLASSIFIED BY: Rogers, Bruce D, DCM; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000093
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2035/02/26
TAGS: PREL IR IZ SA LG
SUBJECT: AIRBALTIC CEO UNHAPPY ABOUT IRAN; WANTS USG HELP TO START
FLIGHTS TO IRAQ AND SAUDI ARABIA
REF: RIGA 70; RIGA 73
CLASSIFIED BY: Rogers, Bruce D, DCM; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) Bertolt Flick, CEO of airBaltic, met with Ambassador
Garber to complain about U.S. pressure on the GOL to prohibit
airBaltic's planned new service to Iran (Reftel A & B). Flick
confirmed that airBaltic will not fly to Tehran. However, he
expressed his frustration that the previously planned flight caused
a controversy and his view that airBaltic was being unfairly
singled out given ongoing flights to Iran by other European
airlines, such as Lufthansa. Flick said the Prime Minister
requested cancelation of the flight but stressed that he controls
airBaltic and the decision to cancel the flight was his, not the
GOL's. (Comment: The GOL owns 52.6% and Flick owns 47.2% of
airBaltic. End Comment)
2. (SBU) Flick requested USG help to establish airBaltic
service to Baghdad and Saudi Arabia. He said that airBaltic has
been attempting to obtain approvals for such flights from the Iraqi
and Saudi Arabian governments, but those governments have so far
been unresponsive. He requested that the USG use its influence in
those countries to help move the approval process forward.
GARBER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2035/02/26
TAGS: PREL IR IZ SA LG
SUBJECT: AIRBALTIC CEO UNHAPPY ABOUT IRAN; WANTS USG HELP TO START
FLIGHTS TO IRAQ AND SAUDI ARABIA
REF: RIGA 70; RIGA 73
CLASSIFIED BY: Rogers, Bruce D, DCM; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) Bertolt Flick, CEO of airBaltic, met with Ambassador
Garber to complain about U.S. pressure on the GOL to prohibit
airBaltic's planned new service to Iran (Reftel A & B). Flick
confirmed that airBaltic will not fly to Tehran. However, he
expressed his frustration that the previously planned flight caused
a controversy and his view that airBaltic was being unfairly
singled out given ongoing flights to Iran by other European
airlines, such as Lufthansa. Flick said the Prime Minister
requested cancelation of the flight but stressed that he controls
airBaltic and the decision to cancel the flight was his, not the
GOL's. (Comment: The GOL owns 52.6% and Flick owns 47.2% of
airBaltic. End Comment)
2. (SBU) Flick requested USG help to establish airBaltic
service to Baghdad and Saudi Arabia. He said that airBaltic has
been attempting to obtain approvals for such flights from the Iraqi
and Saudi Arabian governments, but those governments have so far
been unresponsive. He requested that the USG use its influence in
those countries to help move the approval process forward.
GARBER