VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPO #0335 2331747
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 201747Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0319
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000335 
 
SIPDIS 
 
WHA/CAR FOR JROSHOLT AND RRAGIN 
EEB/TRA/AN FOR VLIMAYE-DAVIS 
DOT FOR BHEDBERG 
DOC FOR MICHELLE BROOKS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR KTIA XL NS
SUBJECT:  OPEN SKIES AGREEMENT A "STRONG POSSIBILITY" 
 
REF: A) SECSTATE 81957; 
B) UTSCHIG/MENSCHER/FRANGIE/HORWTIZ/LIMAYE-DAVIS /HEDBERG EMAILS JULY 
2007-JULY 2008; 
C) 07 PARAMARIBO 622; 
D) 07 STATE 146737; 
E) 07 PARAMARIBO 558; 
F) 06 PARAMARIBO 80; 
G) 03 PARAMARIBO 669. 
 
¶1. (U)  Summary.  Terence Craig, Head of the Americas Division at 
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said there is a "strong 
possibility" the Government of Suriname (GOS) would sign a bilateral 
Open Skies agreement.  Craig, a long-time fan of an Open Skies 
agreement, may not reflect a consolidated position, but his comments 
are an additional indicator the GOS could be receptive to the 
liberalization of the aviation sector through an individual, 
bilateral Open Skies agreement.  The true test remains if Minister 
Apinsa, of Transportation, Communication and Tourism, reinstalls the 
Aviation Advisory Team to review the proposed text of the agreement. 
 End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) On August 14, EconOff met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
(MFA) Head of the Americas Division Terence Craig to present the 
demarche on a bilateral Open Skies agreement.  EconOff also provided 
by DipNote a request that copies of the information sheets and draft 
text of an Open Skies agreement be forwarded to the Ministry of 
Transportation, Communication and Tourism (TCT). 
 
¶3. (U) Craig told EconOff the proposal for a bilateral Open Skies 
agreement is not new to him, and said there is a "strong 
possibility" the Government of Suriname (GOS) would sign an Open 
Skies agreement now that Surinam Airways (SLM) is beginning regular 
flights to Miami.  The GOS signed an agreement with the Netherlands 
on the mid-Atlantic route just a few years ago, he added.  The GOS 
is interested in Open Skies, he continued, not just with the United 
States but also with other nations in the region. 
 
¶4. (U) Discussion of an Open Skies agreement would be a great "next 
bilateral project" for the TCT, Craig suggested, after the inaugural 
SLM flight to Miami via Aruba (Note:  This flight is scheduled for 
August 25, 2008.  End Note).  Craig stressed that, as with all GOS 
business, this Open Skies project will take time, but quantified his 
statement by adding "but not in years, in months." 
 
¶5. (U) During a separate conversation between EconAsst and Director 
of Civil Aviation Vivian Hanenberg, Hanenberg said the TCT had a 
copy of the standard Open Skies agreement text, and he had advised 
Minister Apinsa to reinstall her Aviation Advisory Team to review 
the document and advise on whether the document was acceptable or 
required adjustments. (Note:  This is the same Team that worked on 
the bilateral Open Skies agreement between Suriname and the 
Netherlands.  End Note.)  Hanenberg could not provide information on 
whether the Minister had installed or planned to reinstall the Team, 
however.  He said that he knew the signing of an agreement is 
"months away" and would require negotiations. 
 
¶6. (U) Comment.  Craig, a long-time fan of an Open Skies agreement 
(Reftel C), made statements that may not reflect a consolidated GOS 
position.  That said, combined with information from Reftel A, his 
comments are a good indicator that both the MFA and TCT may be on 
board to begin discussions on the text of a bilateral Open Skies 
agreement.  Whether Minister Apinsa convenes the Aviation Advisory 
Team to review the proposed text, however, remains the key indicator 
of sincere GOS interest in the U.S. proposal.  End Comment. 
 
SCHREIBER HUGHES