VZCZCXRO3386
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0622 3381809
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041809Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9840
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 1626
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 1207

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000622 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR for Jackie Rosholt, EEB/TRA for Viki Limaye-Davis, 
DOT for Brian Hedberg, DHS/TSA for Loretta McNeir 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR KTIA XL NS
SUBJECT: BUREACRATIC BLOCKS ON OPEN SKIES, DIRECT FLIGHTS TO 
SURINAME 
 
REF: (A) SECSTATE 146737 (B) PARAMARIBO 558 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY:  After delaying for months in response to 
Embassy attempts to set up a meeting to further discuss air traffic 
with the United States, government of Suriname (GOS) Minister of 
Transportation, Communication, and Tourism (TCT) Richel Apinsa 
tabled Open Skies, saying the GOS prefers to wait for a CARICOM 
approach.  Apinsa also said that Suriname Airways (SLM) is 
interested in obtaining approval to fly to Miami, and would like to 
begin the formal process in 2008.  In light of difficulty passing a 
National Aviation Security Proposal, Post doubts SLM or the GOS will 
be ready in 2008.  END SUMMARY 
 
----------------------------------------- 
Shadowboxing the Ministry and the Airline 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  During a courtesy call to new transportation Minister 
Richel Apinsa in June, Post and the Minister agreed to look into the 
status of SLM's stated desire to fly directly to the United States. 
Previous to that meeting, SLM complained to the media that the U.S. 
was hampering its "U.S. dream" with excessive security requirements. 
 Five months were to pass before Apinsa agreed to a follow-up 
meeting to discuss SLM's claims.   On November 26, Apinsa 
acknowledged that there is no "block" or "hold" on SLM applying to 
fly to the United States and that an official security inspection 
would only occur should SLM apply.  She said she appreciated the 
clarity of Post's explanation, and that SLM wishes to apply in 
¶2008. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
Little Movement on Years-Old Aviation Security Proposal 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  The major sticking point for an SLM application is 
questionable airport security, of which the GOS is well aware.  The 
civil aviation authority in Suriname says it cannot move forward 
with improvements until the National Civil Aviation Security 
Proposal (NCASP) is passed, but this law has languished in 
bureaucratic limbo since 2005.  Asked for an update, Deputy 
Permanent Secretary on Transport Marcia Clumper said the law awaits 
approval by the Council of Ministers, but that first the Council 
will need to be re-briefed on the issue, as some Ministers have 
changed since the previous submission in January of 2007, when the 
NCASP was last presented -- and the Council was unconvinced. 
Furthermore, Clumper said this process will have to involve all who 
have worked on the law, including Customs, the Ministries of 
Defense, Health, and TCT, and the carriers.  Clumper and Apinsa 
promised to see what they can do to move the process forward. 
 
----------------------- 
Open Skies Still Closed 
----------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  In October post delivered demarche ref A, regarding 
opening bilateral discussion of Open Skies.  Post spoke directly 
with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) as required by MFA 
protocol, delivering a copy of the demarche for TCT (ref B).  MFA 
Head of the Americas division Terence Craig had previously expressed 
optimism about Open Skies, saying that as other countries are 
negotiating bilaterally, Suriname should as well; he also expressed 
mild disapproval of previous TCT Minister Alice Amafo, who ended 
bilateral Open Skies discussion in 2005 by referring the matter to 
CARICOM.  However, when Post met with Apinsa on November 26, she had 
not received the Open Skies information from MFA.  She and Clumper 
accepted copies of and agreed to review them, but rejected 
suggestions to consider bilateral negotiations, saying they want to 
see what CARICOM will do with open skies.  Clumper said she does not 
have the feeling that CARICOM has struck Open Skies from its agenda, 
but rather that "certain actors" want to further inform themselves. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  COMMENT:  While Post is pleased to have TCT's pledge to 
move forward on NCASP and thus on a possible direct flight route to 
the United States, there are many steps involved, and if SLM must 
wait for NCASP approval, its goal of applying for a route in 2008 is 
unrealistic.  Bureaucratic processes in Suriname move slowly, 
especially as the number of Ministries involved increases. 
Furthermore, the talk of a route to the United States may be mostly 
a marketing ploy, with no direct route envisioned: the route would 
likely go via Aruba or another resort island, thereby expanding 
SLM's sales without making it any easier to get to Suriname from 
Miami (the best flights currently go via Port of Spain).  As for 
Open Skies, TCT appears to have checked the "too hard" box, 
delegating Open Skies back to CARICOM responsibility.  END COMMENT 
 
GENTON