VISITING TEAM ADVANCES HSPD-6 IN NORWAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000665

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR CA/P/IP DIANE BEAN
DEPT FOR CA/P/IP PETER THOMPSON
DEPT FOR CA/P/IP MARY DOETSCH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2018
TAGS: ASEC CMGT CVIS PGOV PREL PTER NO
SUBJECT: VISITING TEAM ADVANCES HSPD-6 IN NORWAY

REF: A) 06 STATE 53614 B) 06 OSLO 554 C) STATE 101569
D) OSLO 557

Classified By: Consul Rodger Deuerlein for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a December 5th meeting at the MFA, a
joint Department and TSC negotiating team gave a
comprehensive overview of HSPD-6 to an inter-agency group of
Norwegian officials. The GON was receptive and indicated
that the meeting clarified many issues for them, which would
permit them to further examine the topic. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Following an informative briefing at Post for the
country team, the visiting DOS-TSC team, accompanied by
Consul and Vice Consul, presented an in-depth review of
HSPD-6 at the MFA for GON officials, including
representatives from MFA, MOJ, and the Police Security
Service (PST). The DOS-TSC team's review covered model
agreement text as well as operations under HSPD-6. The
operational briefing also included a simulated demonstration
of the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) query system
available to foreign HSPD-6 partners.


3. (C) The Norwegian side, led by MFA Legal Department
director Jens Eikaas, focused primarily on the functionality
of the system, particularly on the issues of information
sharing and database permissions (i.e., the GON's ability to
get GON-supplied lookouts subsequently removed from the
TSDB). The PST representative was especially interested in
the database as a tool for screening asylum seekers, of which
Norway has an increasing number.


4. (C) The Norwegians also had questions related to the
possibility of having a binding agreement, which is normally
required under Norwegian law. Eikaas stated that a formal
inter-ministerial authorization would be required for his
team to begin negotiations, but that this process would not
be a lengthy one. The entire process would be even faster,
however, if the agreement were negotiated on an
agency-to-agency basis.


5. (C) One factor that may affect any timetable for HSPD-6 in
Norway is pending legislation relating to the use of police
databases. One member of the GON team suggested these new
rules, which implement EU directives, would need to be a
settled matter prior to finalizing HSPD-6.


6. (C) The Norwegians did not indicate at this meeting the
approximate number of terrorist-related records they might
provide under an HSPD-6 arrangement; nor did they say whether
there might be restrictions on the nationality of the record
subjects.


7. (SBU) Overall, Post is encouraged by the outcome of this
long-awaited meeting and is especially thankful to the HSPD-6
team for their visit and expertise, which we believe will
serve as a catalyst for moving this issue forward with the
GON.
WHITNEY