NORWAY REQUESTS AGREEMENT FOR SHARING AIR

UNCLAS OSLO 000604 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS BRUSSELS FOR TSA: KEVIN CAHILL, JESUS PRESAS, AND PAUL ROGERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAIR ECON NO SUBJECT: NORWAY REQUESTS AGREEMENT FOR SHARING AIR PASSENGER DATA ¶1. (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 2. ¶2. (U) On June 7, Embassy Oslo received a diplomatic note from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting that Norway and the United States enter into an agreement on processing and transfer of air passenger data. The text of the diplomatic note appears below. The MFA explained that the note was prompted by Norway's adherence to EU-US agreements. ACTION REQUEST: Post requests guidance on next steps to initiate these negotiations and to secure an agreement. ¶3. (SBU) TEXT OF NORWEGIAN DIPLOMATIC NOTE 07JUN2007 Begin Text: The Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America, and has the honour to refer to the agreements between the United States of America and other states and entities, including the EU, regarding processing and transfer of name record data by air carriers to the U.S. authorities concerned. Norway, as a starting point for flights to the U.S., considers a separate agreement between our two countries regarding processing and transfer of passenger name record data to be required. The Ministry would, accordingly, like to propose that negotiations be initiated between Norway and the United States of America concerning an agreement on processing and transfer of passenger name record data by air carriers to the U.S. authorities concerned. The Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurance of its highest consideration. Oslo, 7 June 2007 End Text. Whitney