Plans by Norwegian Deputy FM Helgesen to call

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001966 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR D, SA, SA/INS, EUR/NB; NSC FOR E. MILLARD E.O. 12958: DECL: 11-14-13 TAGS: PREL PGOV CE NO LTTE SUBJECT: Plans by Norwegian Deputy FM Helgesen to call the Deputy Secretary Refs: Colombo 1963, and previous (U) Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead. Reasons 1.5 (b,d). ¶1. (SBU) After concluding his November 14 briefing on his latest visit to Sri Lanka (see Septel),Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen took Ambassador Lunstead aside and said he thought it might be useful to call Deputy Secretary Armitage at some point next week. Helgesen indicated that he would like to apprise the Deputy Secretary of the situation in Sri Lanka and Norway's ideas on next steps. The Ambassador said he would convey this information to Washington. ¶2. (C) COMMENT: As reviewed in Septel, Helgesen and his Norwegian government facilitation team had quite an eventful visit, including meetings with Tamil Tiger leader V. Prabhakaran, and cohabitation arch-rivals President Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe. Given the sensitive situation prevailing in Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the President's sudden moves last week, we think a D-Helgesen phone call would be an excellent idea in light of the key role Norway is playing in this particularly turbulent period. END COMMENT. LUNSTEAD