PRIORITY
GR 260
CYPHER CAT/A
FM VIENTIANE 06033OZ
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO.010 OF 6 DECEMBER INFO PRIORITY TO F.C.O. AND D.O.T.
AND SAVING TO HANOI.
HKK-184/3
- 7 DEC
RA 25
95
YOUR TEL 25: LAO AVIATION SPECIAL FLIGHTS.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THESE FLIGHTS WAS TO PERMIT MAINTENANCE OF LAOS AGED NON-SOVIET AIRCRAFT BY HAECO. IF PERMISSION FOR FURTHER FLIGHTS WERE TO BE REFUSED LAO WOULD EITHER HAVE TO TRANSFER MAINTENANCE WORK TO ANOTHER COUNTRY WITH LOSS TO MAECO OF SIGNIFICANT INCOME OR OPERATE UNSAFE AIRCRAFT OR REDUCE INTERNAL FLIGHTS TO THOSE THAT CAN BE UNDERTAKEN BY THEIR SOVIET AIRCRAFT. AMONG POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF EITHER OF LATTER 2 COURSES WOULD BE INTERNATIONAL RELIEF OPERATIONS IN LAOS SUCH AS THOSE AT PRESENT UNDERTAKEN BY UNHCR AND DISTRIBUTION OF EMERGENCY FOOD AID.
2. I HOPE THEREFORE THAT IN PLACE OF FOR MULA PROPOSED IN 2ND SENTENCE OF YOUR PARA 4 YOU CAN AGREE TO INFORM LAG THAT YOU WILL BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL FLIGHTS WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THEIR AIRCRAFT BY HAECO AT AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF SAFETY. (YOU MAY WISH TO DISCUSS FORMULA WITH HAECO).
CONFIDENTIAL
13. IT