US embassy cable - 05PRETORIA2177

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 002177 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/EPS AND AF/S/TCRAIG AND KGAITHER 
DEPT FOR IO/T/FOSTRANDER 
DEPT FOR EB/TRA/JBYERLY, LFAUX-GABLE AND CDEMARS 
MONTREAL FOR USICAO 
TRANSPORTATION FOR SMCDERMOTT, KBHATIA, GRETCH 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  06/02/2015 
TAGS: EAIR, EINV, ETRD, ECON, SF 
SUBJECT:  SOUTH AFRICA ON ICAO LEADERSHIP DEMARCHE 
 
REF:  STATE 83002 
 
Classified By:  Acting Econ Chief Alan Tousignant.  Reason 1.4 (b/d). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY.  Per reftel, Econoff delivered the USG 
non-paper to relevant South African government officials. 
Department of Transport (DOT) Chief Director of Air Transport 
Regulation Godfrey Selepe said South Africa supports a review 
of Council President and Secretary General roles at the 
International Civil Aviation Organization.  Selepe said South 
Africa could support a system that elected the Council 
President from among the Council Representatives if the term 
was no less than three years and the process was managed to 
prevent developed nations from simultaneously holding both 
the Council Presidency and Secretary General positions. 
Selepe told Econoff that most sub-Saharan African nations do 
not believe Dr. Cherif is representative of all of Africa and 
would not support his bid for re-election.  He added that 
Europe would likely support a Council President candidate 
from the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC). 
END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (U) Per reftel, Econoff delivered the USG non-paper to 
relevant South African government officials including CEO of 
South Africa's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Mongezi India, 
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Director of Science and 
Technology Lydia Greyling, Department of Transport (DOT) 
Director of Aviation Policy Johann Biermann, and DOT Chief 
Director of Air Transport Regulation Godfrey Selepe. 
Preparations for an African Union Transport Minister's Summit 
and the Minister of Transport's Budget Speech to parliament 
prevented Econoff from speaking with DOT officials until June 
1. 
 
3.  (C) Selepe told Econoff that South Africa agrees that the 
roles of International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) 
Council President and Secretary General should be realigned 
to conform with the responsibilities as originally outlined 
in the Chicago Convention.  Selepe agreed that Dr. Kotaite's 
powers currently exceed the envisioned role of the Council 
President and that this is not healthy for the future of the 
organization. 
 
4.  (C) Regarding the possibility of electing the Council 
President from among the Council Representatives, Selepe said 
that South Africa could support such a system on the 
following conditions:  a) The term of office would be at 
least three years.  Selepe argued that two years would be too 
short; and b) Mechanisms would be put in place to prevent 
developed nations from holding both the Council President and 
Secretary General positions simultaneously. Otherwise, Selepe 
 
SIPDIS 
felt that the views and concerns of developing nations would 
receive inadequate attention. 
 
5.  (C) According to Selepe, Dr. Cherif will seek another 
term as Secretary General.  Selepe said, however, that it was 
highly unlikely that South Africa would support Dr. Cherif's 
bid for re-election.  He added that the Southern African 
Developing Community (SADC) and much of sub-Saharan Africa do 
not believe Cherif is representative of all of Africa. 
 
6.  (C) Selepe said that Europe plans to support the 
candidacy of a developing nation for the Council Presidency 
and is lobbying with the Latin American Civil Aviation 
Commission (LACAC) to identify a candidate.  Selepe noted the 
historical cooperation between the African Civil Aviation 
Commission (AFCAC) and LACAC, but stopped short of saying 
whether South Africa or AFCAC would support a LACAC 
candidate.  At a recent SADC meeting Selepe advised 
representatives to take their time and seek counsel from 
their ICAO representatives. 
 
HARTLEY