JAMAICA: DIPNOTE RE FEDERAL AIR MARSHAL SERVICE REQUEST

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000739

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EEB/TRA/OTP (BRIAN SILER)
WHA/CAR (ANDRE CADIEUX)
L/EB (KATHLEEN MILTON)
DHS/TSA (LORETTA MCNEIR, ANTHONY GIOVANNIELLO)
DHS/FAMS (DHOLLEY)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR PGOV PTER KTIA PREL JM XL
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: DIPNOTE RE FEDERAL AIR MARSHAL SERVICE REQUEST

REF: (A) 07 STATE 7834 (221953Z JAN 07)
(B) KINGSTON 13 (072054Z JAN 08)
(C) KINGSTON 329 (171911Z APR 08)
(D) STATE 84402 (061607Z AUG 08)
(E) KINGSTON 709 (081444Z AUG 08)


1. In response to Embassy's diplomatic note delivered August 7 per
reftels (D) and (E),on August 21 Post received the following
diplomatic note from the Government of Jamaica (GoJ)'s Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT),dated August 13, 2008.
For ease of reference, points at which the text of the following
diplomatic note differs from the text of the note conveyed by
Embassy on the basis of reftels (D) and (E) are annotated: ((SIC)).


(BEGIN TEXT OF JAMAICAN DIPLOMATIC NOTE)
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Ref No.: 358/803/3)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade presents its
compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has
the honour to acknowledge receipt of the Embassy's note No. 259/08
dated August 8, 2008 transmitting the revised text of an arrangement
between the government of the united States of America and the
government of Jamaica on the deployment of Air marshals of both
countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has the further
honour to agree to the proposed arrangements as follows:

Section 1
Purpose and Definitions


1. The purpose of this arrangement is to enhance the security of
charter and regularly scheduled commercial combination flights
between the territories of the Participants by providing a framework
for the deployment of Air Marshals on such flights.


2. The Participants intend to carry out air marshal operations in a
manner consistent with the provisions of the Convention on Offences
and Certain Other Acts Committed On Board Aircraft (the "Tokyo
Convention")((SIC - vs. 'Tokyo Convention')),the Convention for the
Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft ("The Hague
Convention"),and the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful
Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation ("Montreal Convention")
((SIC - no period))


3. For the purpose of this arrangement:

a. "Air Marshal" means a person who is employed, trained and
accredited by the Government of the Sending State, to a standard
acceptable to the Receiving State, to travel on an aircraft
registered in the Sending State to provide security for that
aircraft and its passengers and crew.

b. 'Participants' means the Governments of Jamaica and the United
States of America.

c. 'Receiving State' means the State other than the Sending State
whose government is the other Participant in this arrangement.

d. 'Sending State' means the State of registration of the aircraft.

Section 2
Scope of the Arrangement


1. This arrangement applies to aircraft that engage in charter and
scheduled combination air services, that are registered in one
Participant, and that operate between the territories of the
Participants.


2. This arrangement will also apply to aircraft that engage in
charter and scheduled combination air services between the
territories of a Participant and a third state, and that are
diverted to the territory of the other Participant.

Section 3
General Intentions of the Sending State

The Sending State expects to:

a) prior to the departure of a flight carrying its Air Marshals,
ensure that the Air Marshals have the appropriate visa to enter the
Receiving State;

b) prior to the departure of a flight carrying its Air Marshals,
instruct the Air Marshals to declare all weapons equipment ((SIC -
'and' deleted)) to police and customs authorities in the Receiving
State on landing and to comply with the customs laws of the
Receiving State;

c) prior to the departure of the flight carrying its Air Marshals,
advise the Receiving State of the identity of the Air Marshals on
board the aircraft and the type and number of weapons and equipment
that the Air Marshals will be carrying. ((SIC - period vs.
semi-colon))

d) in the event of an incident on board the aircraft, advise the
Receiving State as soon as the Sending State becomes aware of this
incident; and

e) in the event of an incident on board the aircraft and the alleged
offender(s) is (are) detained or arrested and not returned to the
Sending State, ensure that the Air Marshals hand the offender(s)
over to the Receiving State upon landing.

Section 4
General Intentions of the Receiving State


1. The Receiving State expects to:

a. facilitate, in accordance with its laws, the admission into and
departure from its territory of Air Marshals of the Sending State;

b. permit, in accordance with its laws, the entry into and departure
from its territory of the weapons and equipment of Air Marshals of
the Sending State; and

c. take delivery of any person or persons in the custody of Air
Marshals of the Sending State upon arrival in the Receiving State.

Section 5
Operational Arrangements


1. This arrangement is to be implemented in accordance with
operational procedures to be agreed ((SIC - vs. 'decided')) in
writing between the Participants.


2. These operational procedures are ((SIC - vs. 'should be')) in
accordance with the terms of this arrangement as set out ((SIC - vs.
'forth')) herein.


3. Neither Participant is ((SIC - vs. 'intends')) to disclose to
third States or to any person ((SIC - vs. 'any private person')) or
entity the content of the operational procedures without the consent
of the other Participant.

Section 6
Observance of Laws of Sending State by Air Marshals

The Participants expect that, in the performance of their duties
during the flight while in the Sending State, and from the point the
doors of the aircraft are closed for takeoff, and until any external
aircraft doors are open for disembarkation, Air Marshals operating
under this arrangement will exercise their powers in accordance
with
the laws of the Sending State.

Section 7
Direction of Air Marshals

The Sending State is expected to direct the law enforcement
activities of its Air Marshals that take place during the flight
while in the Sending State and from the point the doors of the
aircraft are closed for takeoff and until any external aircraft
doors are open for disembarkation.

Section 8
Effective Date

These arrangements are to take effect ((SIC - vs. 'are
expected to commence')) on a date to be agreed ((SIC - vs.
'determined')) in writing by the Participants by exchange of
Diplomatic Notes.

The Ministry of foreign Affairs and Foreign trade avails itself of
this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of
America the assurances of its highest consideration.
(END TEXT OF JAMAICAN DIPLOMATIC NOTE)
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2. Post requests Washington's advice as to next steps.
JOHNSON