US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT2493

UNCLAS KUWAIT 002493 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION 
STATE FOR EB/TRA/AN LAURENCE JONES 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR, PREL, ECON, ETRD, KU 
SUBJECT: KUWAIT CIVAIR: PROMOTING OPEN SKIES 
 
REF: SECSTATE 140170 
 
1.  Post received a diplomatic note from the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs dated 3 August, 2004, expressing the 
Directorate of Civil Aviation's interest in beginning direct 
negotiations on a bilateral Open Skies agreement.  An 
informal translation of the note follows below.  We would 
appreciate the Department's guidance on the next steps to 
take. 
 
 
2.  BEGIN TEXT 
 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Legal Department 
15808 
August 3, 2004 
 
(Complimentary opening) 
 
With reference to Embassy Note No. 337, dated April 19, 2004, 
expressing the desire of the United States to conclude an 
agreement to regulate air services between the US and Kuwait 
by proposing that Kuwait either enter into a multilateral 
agreement with a number of countries, including the US, to 
liberalize air transport or alternatively conclude a 
bilateral agreement to regulate air services based on the 
Open Skies principle. 
 
The Ministry would like to inform you that it has spoken to 
the parties concerned (the Directorate General of Civil 
Aviation) in this regard, which in turn has informed the 
Ministry that it prefers to conclude a bilateral agreement 
rather than entering into a multilateral agreement. 
 
The Civil Aviation Authority also proposes holding a 
bilateral meeting including specialized delegations from the 
two countries, to prepare and discuss the draft proposed 
agreement, especially since there are certain issues that are 
difficult to solve without holding such a meeting. 
 
The Ministry would be grateful if the Embassy would refer the 
abovementioned proposal to the concerned parties in the 
United States, and inform them of the Ministry's views. 
 
(Complimentary closing) 
 
END TEXT 
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