YO, JAFETH ERNESTO CABRERA FRANCO
Vicepresidente de la República de Guatemala
en funciones de la Presidencia

DECLARO:

Que el Gobierno de la República de Guatemala, habiendo celebrado, mediante el intercambio de las Notas Verbales del 20 de junio y 19 de octubre de 2018, el ACUERDO POR CANJE DE NOTAS ENTRE LA REPÚBLICA DE GUATEMALA Y LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA RELATIVO AL DESPLIEGUE RECÍPROCO DE OFICIALES DE SEGURIDAD A BORDO DE VUELOS COMERCIALES, y su modificación, contenida en las Notas Verbales del 12 de abril y 1 de mayo de 2019, ratifica por el presente dicho Acuerdo y su modificación, y se compromete a cumplir y aplicar fielmente las disposiciones que en él y en su modificación figuran.

EN TESTIMONIO DE LO CUAL, firmo el presente Instrumento.

Hecho en la Ciudad de Guatemala, a un día del mes de junio de dos mil diecinueve.

JAFETH ERNESTO CABRERA FRANCO

EL VICEMINISTRO DE RELACIONES EXTERIORES
ENCARGADO DEL DESPACHO

PABLO CÉSAR GARCÍA SÁENZ

CALOS ADOLFO MARTÍNEZ GULARTE
SECRETARIO GENERAL
DE LA PRESIDENCIA DE LA REPÚBLICA

No. 247

The Embassy of the United States of America presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Guatemala and refers the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Guatemala to the ongoing cooperation between our two countries in promoting aviation security and to recent discussions between representatives of the two governments regarding the regular deployment of armed in-flight security officers on board commercial flights between the United States and Guatemala to deter and counter terrorist threats against civil aviation.

Operations by U.S. in-flight security officers on board U.S. air carriers servicing Guatemala have been ongoing since March 2005. The Embassy, on behalf of the Government of the United States, extends its thanks and compliments to the Government of Guatemala for its cooperation in this successful mutual endeavor and wishes to see this cooperation continue in the years ahead.

The Embassy draws the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Guatemala to the internationally accepted standards and recommended practices in the area of aviation security embodied in Annex 17 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, known as the Chicago Convention. In July 2006 Annex 17 to the Chicago Convention was amended to include several provisions governing the deployment of armed in-flight government security persornnel on board aircraft in intemational civil aviation. Among these new provisions is Standard 4.7.5 of the Annex that provides travel by armed in-flight security officers between Contracting States be allowed only after agreement by all States involved. While in-flight security officer operations have been carried out heretofore on the basis of an arrangement made by our two countries ' competent aviation authorities, this arrangement has not to date been formalized in an agreement.

In furtherance of continued cooperation in this important area of commercial and security relations, recognizing the continuing mutual benefits of ongoing in-flight security officer deployments on board aircraft operating to, from, or between the United States and Guatemala, and acknowledging Standard 4.7.5 of Annex 17 to the Chicago Convention, the Embassy proposes that the two countries conclude a binding international agreement on terms set forth in the following proposed Agreement, to serve as a framework for the reciprocal deployment of in-flight security officers.

Article 1

Purpose and Definitions

1. The purpose of this Agreement is to enhance the security of Combination Air Services to, from, or between the territories of the United States of America and the Republic of Guatemala ("Parties") by providing a framework for the deployment of in-flight security officers on certain such flights.

2. For the purposes of this Agreement:

(a) 'In-Flight Security Officer' or 'IFSO,' also known in the United States as a "Federal Air Marshal" or "FAM," means a person who is employed, trained, and accredited by the Government of the Sending State to travel on an aircraft to provide security for that aircraft and its passengers and crew.

(b) 'Sending State' means the State that, as a Party to this Agreement, deploys an in-flight security officer on an aircraft that is operated by an air carrier that received its Air Operator Certifícate (AOC) from that State.

(c) 'Receiving State' means the non-deploying State that is a Party to this Agreement.

(d) 'Combination Air Services' means commercial charter and scheduled air transportation Services that combine passenger and cargo Services.

(e) 'Third State' means a State that is not a Party to this Agreement.

(f) 'Air Operator Certificate' means a certificate authorizing an operator to carry out specific commercial air transport operations.

Article 2

Scope of the Agreement

1. This Agreement shall apply to aircraft that engage in Combination Air Services that are operated by an air carrier that received its AOC from one Party and that operate between the territories of the Parties.

2. This Agreement shall also apply to aircraft that are operated by an air carrier that received its AOC from one of the Parties, that engage in Combination Air Services between the territories of a Party and a Third State, and that are diverted to the temtory of the other Party.

3. This Agreement shall also apply to aircraft that are operated by an air carrier that received its AOC from one of the Parties and that engage in Combination Air Services between the territories of the other Party and a Third State.

4. Activities under this Agreement shall be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

5. The Parties acknowledge their respective rights and obligations under (a) the Convention on International Civil Aviation, done at Chicago on 7 December 1944 and, in particular, Annex 17 Chapter 4, Standards 4.7.4, 4.7.5 and 4.7.7 thereof; and (b) the Convention on Offenses and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft, done at Tokyo on 14 September 1963.

Article 3

General Responsibilities of the Sending State

1. With respect to flights between the territories of the Sending State and the Receiving State, the Sending State shall:

(a) prior to the departure of a flight carrying its IFSOs, ensure that all IFSOs have the appropriate travel documents and all pertinent valid licenses and authorizations, as specified in the operational procedures adopted by the Parties in accordance with Article 5;

(b) prior to the departure of a flight carrying its IFSOs, direct the IFSOs to declare all weapons and related equipment to appropriate authorities in the Receiving State on landing and to comply with the customs requirements and other applicable laws. of the Receiving State; (c) at least 30 days prior to the departure of a flight carrying its IFSOs, inform the Receiving State in writing of the information specified in the Annex, to include the identity of its IFSOs on board the aircraft and the type and number of weapons and related equipment that the IFSOs will be carrying;

(d) in the event of imminent danger or exigent circumstances requiring the deployment of IFSOs with less than 30 days prior written notice to the Receiving State, inform the Receiving State of the identity of the IFSOs on board the aircraft and the type and number of weapons and related equipment that the IFSOs will be carrying, as provided in the Annex, at the earliest time, but, in any case, prior to the scheduled departure of the flight to the Receiving State;

(e) if there is an incident on board the aircraft, inform the Receiving State as soon as the Sending State becomes aware of the incident; and

(f) if there is an incident on board the aircraft and the alleged offenders are detained or arrested and not returned to the Sending State, direct the IFSOs to deliver the offenders to the Receiving State upon landing.

2. With respect to flights between the territories of the Receiving State and a Third State, the Sending State shall:

(a) prior to the departure of a flight carrying its IFSOs, ensure that all IFSOs have the appropriate travel documents and all pertinent valid licenses and authorizations, as specified in the operational procedures adopted by the Parties in accordance with Article 5;

(b) at least 30 days prior to the departure of a flight carrying its IFSOs, inform the Receiving State in writing of the identity of the IFSOs on board the aircraft and the type and number of weapons and related equipment that the IFSOs will be carrying, as provided in the Annex;

(c) in the event of imminent danger or exigent circumstances requiring the deployment of IFSOs with less than 30 days' written notice, inform the Receiving State of the identity of the IFSOs on board the aircraft and the type and number of weapons and related equipment that the IFSOs will be carrying, as provided in the Annex, at the earliest time, but, in any case, prior to the scheduled departure of the flight;

(d) if there is an incident on board the aircraft, inform the Receiving State as soon as the Sending State becomes aware of the incident; and

(e) if there is an incident on board the aircraft, the alleged offenders are detained or arrested, and the aircraft lands in the Receiving State, direct the IFSOs to deliver the offenders to the Receiving State upon landing.

Article 4

General Responsibilities of the Receiving State

The Receiving State shall:

1. facilítate, in accordance with its laws, the admission into and departure from its territory of IFSOs of the Sending State;

2. permit, in accordance with its laws, the entry into and departure from its territory of the weapons and related equipment of IFSOs of the Sending State; and

3. take delivery of any person or persons detained or arrested during the flight and in the custody of IFSOs of the Sending State upon arrival in the Receiving State.

Article 5

Operational Procedures

1. This Agreement shall be supplemented by mutually acceptable operational procedures set forth in writing by the Parties.

2. These operational procedures shall be in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

3. Unless required by law, neither Party shall disclose to any third party the content of the operational procedures without the consent of the other Party. The Party intending to disclose the information shall notify the other Party of the intended disclosure at least 14 days before the disclosure is made. In the event either Party learns of a known or suspected disclosure of the operational procedures, authorized or unauthorized and not previously notified, the Party learning of the disclosure shall immediately notify the other Party.

Article 6

Observance of the Laws of the Sending State by IFSOs

The Parties agree that, in the performance of their duties while in the Sending State and from the moment all external doors of the aircraft are closed following embarkation until any such door is opened for disembarkation, IFSOs operating under this Agreement shall exercise their powers in accordance with the laws of the Sending State.

Article 7

Direction of IFSOs

The Parties agree that the Sending State shall direct the activities of its IFSOs while in the Sending State and from the moment all external doors of the aircraft are closed following embarkation until any such door is opened for disembarkation.

Annex

Notification Procedures

Information to be provided in the Written Notification of IFSO Deployment, pursuant to Article 3 of the Agreement

a) date and time of mission, including the planned length of stay, and flight information (including flight number and time);

b) number of IFSOs deployed per mission;

c) complete names of all IFSOs, with indication of name of mission leader;

d) passportnumbers;

e) weapons types, makes, and serial numbers;

f) type and quantity of ammunition; and

g) details of other mission-related equipment to be carried on the aircraft, such as radios or handcuffs.

List of National Coordinating Offices

Point of Contact for the United States:

Central contact office for IFSO deployments:

Name of authority: FAMS Mission Operations Center / Duty Watch Officer

Tel: 001 703 563 3566 / 001 703 487 3100
Fax: 001 703 487 3034/ 001 703 487 3305
E-mail: MOC@secureskies.net

Point of Contact for Guatemala:

Central contact office for IFSO deployments:

Name of authority: Gerencia Nacional de Seguridad (National Security Office) /

Edgar Alex Laguardia Pérez Postal / Zip Code: 01013
Address: 9^th Ave. 14-75, zone 13, Guatemala City
Tel: (502) 30457848
E-mail: elalex47@gmail.com

If the foregoing proposal is acceptable to the Republic of Guatemala, the Embassy further proposes that this note and the Ministry's affirmative note in reply constitute an agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Guatemala that shall enter into force upon the date on which the Republic of Guatemala notifies the United States of America that it has completed the necessary domestic legal requirements to this effect.

This Agreement shall remain in force until denunciation by either Party upon not less than ninety (90) days' prior written notice. Upon entry into force, this Agreement shall supersede previous arrangements between the Parties in relation to the deployment of IFSOs of the two countries.

The Embassy of the United States of America takes the opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guatemala the assurances of its highest consideration.

Embassy of the United States of America,

Guatemala, June 20, 2018.

TRADUCCIÓN OFICIAL

No. 247

La Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América saluda atentamente al Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de la República de Guatemala y remite a dicho Ministerio a la cooperación en curso entre nuestros países en materia de seguridad de la aviación y a conversaciones recientes entre los representantes de ambos gobiernos sobre el despliegue habitual de Oficiales de Seguridad a bordo armados en vuelos comerciales entre los Estados Unidos y Guatemala para prevenir y luchar contra las amenazas terroristas a la aviación civil.

Los Oficiales de Seguridad a bordo han llevado a cabo sus operaciones en vuelos de compañías de transporte aéreo estadounidenses con servicio a Guatemala desde marzo de 2005. La Embajada, en nombre del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos, agradece y felicita al Gobierno de Guatemala por su cooperación en esta exitosa labor mutua y espera que dicha cooperación continúe en años venideros.

La Embajada dirige la atención del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de la República de Guatemala a las normas aceptadas y prácticas recomendadas a nivel internacional en materia de seguridad de la aviación contenidas en el Anexo 17 del Convenio sobre Aviación Civil Internacional, conocido como el Convenio de Chicago. En julio de 2006 el Anexo 17 del Convenio de Chicago fue enmendado para incluir varias disposiciones que regulan el despliegue de personal armado del gobierno dedicado a la seguridad a bordo de aeronaves en la aviación civil internacional. Entre las nuevas disposiciones del Convenio se encuentra la Norma 4.7.5 del Anexo que permite que viajen Oficiales de Seguridad a bordo armados entre Estados contratantes solo cuando todos los Estados participantes hayan llegado a un acuerdo. Sí bien las operaciones de los Oficiales de Seguridad a bordo se han llevado a cabo hasta este momento conforme a un arreglo entre los organismos competentes de aviación de nuestros países, este arreglo aún no se ha formalizado como acuerdo.

Con miras a promover la cooperación ininterrumpida en este ámbito importante de relaciones comerciales y de seguridad; reconociendo los beneficios mutuos permanentes de los despliegues en curso de Oficiales de Seguridad a bordo en aeronaves con destino a los Estados Unidos de América y la República de Guatemala, procedentes de esos países o entre ellos, y reconociendo la Norma 4.7.5 del Anexo 17 del Convenio de Chicago, la Embajada propone que ambos países celebren un acuerdo internacional vinculante con arreglo a los términos establecidos en el siguiente acuerdo propuesto, que constituirá el marco para el despliegue recíproco de Oficiales de Seguridad a bordo.