LIBYAN MISSION QUESTIONS SECONDARY SCREENING FOR

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000912 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/UNP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OFDP LY UN SUBJECT: LIBYAN MISSION QUESTIONS SECONDARY SCREENING FOR LIBYAN NATIONALS ¶1. Unclassified - entire text. ¶2. The Libyan Mission to the UN has sent USUN an October 18 diplomatic note protesting what it characterizes as an instruction from the Department of Homeland Security that nationals of certain countries - including Libya - be subjected to secondary inspection on departure from U.S. airports. The Mission requests to be informed whether this procedure also applies to Libyan diplomats. Text of note follows in paragraph 3 below. ¶3. Begin text: The Permanent Mission of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the United Nations in New York presents its compliments to the Permanent Mission of the United States of America to the United Nations and has the honor to inform the latter that airline companies, when flying internationally and domestically, place the symbol (ssss) on the tickets of members of this mission and their families on their departure from American airports. This measure constitutes unjustified personal inspection for persons who enjoy diplomatic immunity and occurs even on presentation of diplomatic passports and tickets which confirm their status. On questioning airline companies concerning the origin of this procedure, they confirmed that this implements instructions from the American Department of Homeland Security requiring airline companies to place this symbol on the tickets of persons of certain nationalities, including Libyan citizens, regardless of their professional status. The Permanent Mission of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the United Nations would like to draw the attention of the Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations to this matter, wishes to inform the latter formally of the basis of this measure, and wishes to be informed whether it applies to diplomats and their families. The Permanent Mission of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the United Nations avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Permanent Mission of the United States of America to the United Nations the assurances of its highest consideration. End text. ¶4. USUN requests guidance for a reply. WOLFF