Washington, SEPT 27, SPA -- U.S. and European officials might be able to finalize a provisional agreement on trans-Atlantic airline security before a Saturday deadline, German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Tuesday. A day after meeting with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Schaeuble also told reporters that a recent U.S. decision to allow some liquids onto airliners could serve as an international standard following an alleged plot in Britain to bomb flights with liquid explosives. In May, the European Union s (EU s) top court rejected a deal with Washington that allowed airlines to provide names, addresses, fare-payment details, and telephone numbers to U.S. authorities and set a September 30 deadline for it to expire. I am hopeful that we can achieve a provisional agreement not to fall into an unregulated situation from October 1, said Schaeuble, who is visiting Washington to meet U.S. officials as Germany prepares to assume the EU presidency in 2007. Then we can negotiate agreements wanted from one side of the other. U.S. Homeland Security Department spokesman Jarrod Agen said negotiations had been productive. We are continuing the dialogue with our European counterparts this week in Washington. We re committed to keeping the air planes flying and the data flowing. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/392620