ICELANDIC MFA REQUESTS ALL U.S. RECORDS ON HALLDOR

UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000179 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR EUR/NB DESK OFFICER STEPHEN WHEELER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OPDC IC SUBJECT: ICELANDIC MFA REQUESTS ALL U.S. RECORDS ON HALLDOR LAXNESS Refs: A) State 77490 B) Klopfenstein-Peterson emails 7/31 and 8/01/08 C) Reykjavik 025 ¶1. (SBU) Upon receipt of ref A note, Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs Political Director Greta Gunnarsdottir responded with several questions about the scope of Department's archival review and the possibility of extending the review to other USG agencies' archives (ref B). Post subsequently received the diplomatic note para. 2 reiterating those questions and requesting a formal response. Text of dip note follows. ¶2. (U) (Begin Text) 08/11/2008 Ref.: UTN07120142/34.O.010 The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and with reference to the latter's Note of 25 July 2008 has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of 13 documents concerning Mr. Halldor Kiljan Laxness and would like to convey its appreciation for the attention the Embassy has given the matter. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs would, however, like to inform, the Embassy that Mr. Halldor Kiljan Laxness's descendants have reiterated their interest in receiving further information pertaining to Mr. Laxness in U.S. Government files originating in the years 1947 - 1957, especially the following documents: Case Control No. 200404239, Segment FBI001A01, Document Number 000001 B3 INA, Document Number 000009 B3 INA and Document Number 000010 B1 25X1 B3 INA as well as previously requested documents from the Department of Homeland Security: Case Number: NYC2005005448 Appeal Number NYC2005000761. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland would be grateful for the further assistance of the Embassy of the United States of America in fulfilling the remainder of the family's request. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America and assurance of its highest consideration. (End Text) ¶3. (SBU) Action Request: Post is appreciative of Department efforts to date and would be grateful for further assistance to provide a prompt response to this diplomatic note. VAN VOORST