VZCZCXRO4912
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #0775/01 2931648
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201648Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1417
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 000775 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O.12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAIR ECON EAID ASEC LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: PRESIDENTIAL INTERVENTION QUELLS TURF WARFARE AT 
ROBERTS AIRPORT 
 
REF: MONROVIA 612 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Less than a month after Lockheed Martin inked a 
deal to manage Roberts International Airport (RIA) (Reftel) the 
President was forced to intervene to clarify the respective roles of 
the Liberian Civil Aviation Authority and Lockheed Martin. As de 
facto airport manager, Lockheed Martin will oversee passenger 
services and screening, meteorology and emergency preparedness.  The 
LCAA, as the regulatory body, is responsible for air traffic control. 
TSA welcomed the delineation of roles, but cautioned that monumental 
reforms remain before a direct flight is feasible.  As has happened 
in the past, personality conflicts and power struggles are 
distracting airport managers from RIA's pressing technical needs. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------ 
The President Intervenes 
------------------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) Only weeks after assuming control of RIA, Lockheed Martin 
complained to Post that an obstructionist Liberian Civil Aviation 
Authority (LCAA) hindered the security and safety reforms necessary 
to ensure direct flights to the United States. Meanwhile, LCAA 
Director General Richelieu Williams asserted the LCAA maintained the 
exclusive right to manage crucial security operations at RIA, citing 
the newly-passed Airports Authority Act and arguing that foreign 
airport management infringed upon Liberian sovereignty.  Lockheed 
Martin Country Manager James Ebanks privately told Econoffs that 
Lockheed may be unable to operate profitably in Liberia.  He worried 
the company might discontinue its management relationship with RIA at 
the conclusion of its six-month contract, if the LCAA was unwilling 
to work cooperatively to ensure the timely advent of direct flights. 
 
¶3. (SBU) However, when President Sirleaf summoned LCAA and Lockheed 
on September 18, after Ebanks urged Post to share his concerns with 
the President, Lockheed Martin downplayed the conflict and conveyed a 
more optimistic tone.  Nevertheless, President Sirleaf clarified LCAA 
and Lockheed's respective roles and relationship moving forward.  The 
LCAA retains authority for air traffic control, while Lockheed Martin 
enjoys exclusive management of passenger services and screening, 
meteorology and emergency preparedness.  All security personnel at 
RIA now report directly to Lockheed Martin.  The President confided 
to the Charge September 14 her belief that the proper functioning of 
baggage handling and passenger screening will be central to TSA's 
decision to approve a direct flight to the United States. 
Consequently, such responsibilities reside with Lockheed Martin. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Ebanks told Econoff October 15 that since the President's 
intervention, relations between Lockheed and the LCAA have improved 
dramatically, and Lockheed Martin no longer entertains the 
possibility of withdrawing from Liberia.  While minor conflicts 
continue to emerge, most recently over who had the right to negotiate 
a contract with Ethiopian Airlines to establish flights to RIA 
(septel), he claims the President seems prepared to mediate at every 
turn.  He added he has met with her four times since their first 
meeting and now speaks to McClain regularly. 
 
--------------------------- 
Assisting Liberian Aviation 
--------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Aviation 
Security Sustainable International Standards Team (ASSIST) conducted 
an interim assessment September 20-25.  TSA praised LCAA's progress 
on access control measures, including the new IDs visible on the 
majority of personnel, but cautioned LCAA that minimum standards 
required to accommodate a direct U.S. flight remain months away. 
 
¶7. (SBU) TSA, working with Lockheed, established short and long-term 
objectives in 16 critical areas.  Easy fixes such as enforcing the 
prohibited items list in sterile areas were expected to be 
accomplished within seven days.  However, the revision and 
implementation of the draft National Training Program's comprehensive 
training and certification schedule may take months.  Overall, TSA 
was encouraged by RIA's progress and found a cooperative and engaging 
partner in Lockheed.  TSA plans to send an ASSIST delegation every 
month until early next year, continuing work on training, safety and 
security, and plans to embark on a National Quality Control program 
that will ensure compliance and proper implementation of operational 
procedures and legislation in the near future. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Turf warfare has been a drag on reforms at RIA.  In late 
2008 and early this year, management of RIA and LCAA jockeyed for 
authority, politicizing airport operations and delaying the hard work 
of reform.  With the resignation of his RIA rival in February and the 
passage of the Airports Authority Act in August, Williams appeared 
set to cement his authority, and may have felt that President 
 
MONROVIA 00000775  002 OF 002 
 
 
Sirleaf's desire to give Lockheed Martin full de facto control of the 
airport constituted a threat to LCAA's primacy.  Williams' and 
Lockheed's current claims to enjoy a cooperative and fruitful 
relationship, if true, should accelerate the reforms necessary to 
ensure direct flights.  However, TSA will judge the substance of LCAA 
and Lockheed's putative cooperation during its October 25-29 visit. 
 
¶9. (SBU) With the Lockheed-LCAA relationship back on track, and the 
Executive Mansion willing to intercede when necessary, Post will 
recuse itself from future disputes.  Instead, Post's interventions 
will be based on the principle that safety and security reforms at 
the airport will increase the likelihood of any international flights 
and improve the overall business climate in Liberia.  This includes 
stepped-up efforts to stop human and other trafficking at the 
airport.  More generally, the President's ongoing and active 
mediation between Lockheed and LCAA exemplifies her chronic inability 
to delegate, or risk deputies failing to implement her vision.