US embassy cable - 05PRETORIA807

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 000807 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/EPS AND AF/S/TCRAIG AND KGAITHER 
DEPT ALSO FOR EB/TRA/AN/CDEMARS, LFAUX-GABLE, ESMITH 
TRANSPORTATION FOR SMCDERMOTT, KBHATIA, GRETCH 
COMMERCE FOR 4510/ITA/IEP/ANESA/OA/JDIEMOND 
TREASURY FOR GCHRISTOPULOS, LSTURM, AND AJEWEL 
DEPT PASS USTR FOR PCOLEMAN, WJACKSON AND CHAMILTON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2015 
TAGS: EAIR, ETRD, ECON, SF 
SUBJECT: SAG OFFICIAL COMMENTS ON JANUARY OPEN SKIES TALKS 
 
REF: A. LFAUX-GABLE EMAILS 
     B. 04 PRETORIA 5259 
     C. 04 PRETORIA 5072 
 
Classified By: (U) Classified by MC Jeff Hartley for reasons 1.4 (b,d). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY.  Department of Transport Director for 
Aviation Regulation Godfrey Selepe described January Open 
Skies talks in Washington D.C. as "positive" and 
"encouraging."  Selepe still plans to resume talks during a 
July visit to the United States.  He supports an open 
dialogue throughout the process in order to develop a 
relationship between the South African and U.S. teams.  He 
said that Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe is "almost 
convinced" that an Open Skies agreement with the United 
States is in South Africa's best interest, but argued that it 
should be a "full Open Skies" agreement without restrictions. 
 END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (SBU) Department of Transport Director for Aviation 
Regulation Godfrey Selepe met with Econoff February 15 to 
discuss Open Skies talks that were held January 27 in 
Washington D.C. Selepe described the talks as "positive."  He 
said that while he remains open-minded about Open Skies, 
President Mbeki's policy is one of managed liberalization for 
South Africa.  In this context, he said he was encouraged by 
comments from U.S. officials on potentially phasing in 
certain aspects of Open Skies.  He said this portends greater 
flexibility in coming to an Open Skies agreement than was the 
case in 2001.  At that time, Selepe said that U.S. 
negotiators were not allowed to deviate from the prescribed 
implementation of the U.S. model text on Open Skies. 
(COMMENT: A phased approach of certain Open Skies aspects may 
help sell Selepe more fully on an Open Skies agreement with 
the United States.  U.S. negotiators could represent and 
leverage potential transitions as an accommodation of Mbeki's 
managed liberalization policy.  END COMMENT) 
 
3.  (SBU) Selepe said that a busy 2005 schedule prevents him 
from traveling to the United States sooner than July.  At 
that time he will visit both the United States and Canada 
with officials from the Department of Environment and 
Tourism, SATourism, and interested airlines (Reftel C). 
Selepe agreed that it would be productive to maintain a 
dialogue with U.S. officials throughout the negotiation 
process.  He said that due to his long-standing relationship 
with U.K. negotiators he is comfortable being frank whenever 
misunderstandings arise.  He would like to develop a similar 
relationship with U.S. officials.  Selepe does not describe 
himself as an "old-school negotiator," revealing his position 
or objectives little by little.  Instead, he said he prefers 
to be open and transparent from the outset.  Consequently, he 
sees no reason why an Open Skies agreement could not be 
negotiated and concluded in one day with prior agreement on 
core issues. 
 
4.  (C) Selepe said that Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe is 
"almost convinced" that an Open Skies agreement with the 
United States is in South Africa's best interest.  Selepe 
said it was apparent that Radebe felt this way in the weeks 
leading up to his January visit to the United States.  As a 
result, Selepe said that he is approaching Open Skies talks 
with the United States as though it is likely to become a 
reality.  However, he argued that if South Africa is going to 
do Open Skies with the United States then it should be "full 
Open Skies," referring to restrictions imposed on full 
cabotage and via the Fly America Act. 
FRAZER