SLOVENIA: AGREEMENT ON HSPD-6 NEGOTIATIONS POSSIBLE BY

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000341

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (PARA NUMBERS CORRECTED AND ADDED SENSITIVE
CAPTION)

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR S/CT, EUR/CE, L/CA
FBI FOR TSC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CMGT CVIS ASEC PREL PTER SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: AGREEMENT ON HSPD-6 NEGOTIATIONS POSSIBLE BY
YEAR-END


1. (U) Summary: A joint team composed of representatives from the
State Department's Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism,
Office of the Legal Adviser, and Terrorist Screening Center visited
Ljubljana on October 19 to commence negotiations with the Slovenian
Government on an agreement to exchange terrorism screening
information pursuant to Homeland Security Presidential Directive 6
(HSPD-6). Most major issues with the text of the agreement were
addressed and resolved; it is likely that an agreement will be
signed before the end of the year. End summary.


2. (U) On October 19 a joint team from the Department's Office of
the Coordinator for Counterterrorism (S/CT),Office of the Legal
Adviser (L/CA) and the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) arrived in
Ljubljana on October 18. Diane Bean, Director, Terrorism
Information Sharing Office, Homeland Security Directorate, S/CT;
Rick Kopel, Principal Deputy Director, TSC; Katy Youel Page,
Attorney-Advisor, L/CA; and Lyn Brown, General Counsel, TSC, and
Arthur Sepeta, Assistant General Counsel, TSC met with Slovenian
government (GOS) officials representing the Ministries of Interior
(which includes the Police Directorate),Justice, and Foreign
Affairs in an all-day session to negotiate the text of a binding
HSPD-6 agreement as well as supplemental technical procedures.


3. (SBU) Discussions about the content of the text moved forward
swiftly, with both sides identifying areas of compromise while still
retaining the essential aspects of the agreement. The Slovenian
side is still considering possible language for sections of the
Agreement regarding protection from disclosure to ensure they are
consistent with Slovenian law on personal data privacy. The U.S.
delegation agreed to examine the proposed technical procedures to
determine how much of the procedural language could be incorporated
into the public agreement. Both sides agreed to communicate and
exchange proposals by the first week of November. Once the text of
the final agreement is reached, it will be presented to the
Slovenian parliament for consideration and approval. The Slovenian
team does not foresee this as a major obstacle and anticipates
Parliamentary concurrence.


4. (SBU) Comment: Post is optimistic about the prospects for the
bilateral HSPD-6 agreement. Previous GOS concerns about operational
information that would not be published seem to have abated, and the
results of the day's session left few areas yet to be concluded
before presentation to parliament. ConOff will follow up with GOS
interlocutors to maintain the momentum from this visit and to
expedite the exchange of proposals as needed. End comment.


5. (U) HSPD-6 team members have cleared on this cable.

FREDEN