(C) IRAQ: NORWEGIAN COMMANDER WANTS TO STAY,

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001364

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/IR, EUR/NB, PM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2014
TAGS: MARR PREL NO IZ KU UNSC
SUBJECT: (C) IRAQ: NORWEGIAN COMMANDER WANTS TO STAY,
WOULD NEED UNSCR BY EARLY MAY


CLASSIFIED BY: CDA JOHN MORAN; REASON 1.4 (A, B, D).


1. (U) A/DCM AND OMC-K VICE CHIEF MET APRIL 25 WITH A
VISITING NORWEGIAN DELEGATION COMPRISING THE DCM FROM THE
NORWEGIAN EMBASSY IN ABU DHABI, PER VATNE, THE COMMANDER OF
THE NORWEGIAN CONTINGENT IN IRAQ, COLONEL THOR MOEN,
CHRISTIAN HANEBORG OF THE EMBASSY, AND MAJOR JENS HYNDOY,
MOEN'S CHIEF OF STAFF. THE MEETING, HELD AT THE NORWEGIANS'
REQUEST, WAS BILLED AS A ROUTINE INTRODUCTORY CALL GIVEN THAT
THE NORWEGIAN EMBASSY IN ABU DHABI COVERS SEVERAL COUNTRIES
INCLUDING KUWAIT AND IRAQ.


2. (C) TO OUR SURPRISE, MUCH OF THE MEETING CONSISTED OF
MOEN (PROTECT THROUGHOUT) EXPRESSING DISAGREEMENT WITH HIS
GOVERNMENT'S POLICY: HE SAID HIS RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
NORWEGIAN MILITARY PRESENCE IN IRAQ BE EXTENDED THROUGH THE
END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR HAD BEEN OVERRULED, AND HIS
CONTINGENT WAS TO CEASE OPERATIONS ON JUNE 30. HE THOUGHT
THERE WAS STILL A CHANCE THIS DECISION COULD BE REVERSED IF
THERE WERE A NEW UNSC RESOLUTION -- MUCH STRONGER THAN THE
EXISTING ONES -- ENDORSING THE POLITICAL PROCESS IN IRAQ AND
CALLING FOR INTERNATIONAL MILITARY PARTICIPATION. BUT, HE
STRESSED, THE RESOLUTION WOULD NEED TO COME VERY SOON: THE
TROOPS THAT WOULD BE ROTATING IN WOULD NEED TWO MONTHS OF
TRAINING TAILORED TO THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGES OF THIS
ASSIGNMENT.


3. (C) MOEN EMPHASIZED HIS INTENT THAT HIS UNIT REMAIN FULLY
OPERATIONAL UNTIL JUNE 30; IT WOULD HAVE UNTIL JULY 15 TO
DEMOBILIZE AND GO HOME. NOT WANTING TO LEAVE ANY TASK
INCOMPLETE, THE UNIT WOULD CEASE TO TAKE ON NEW PROJECTS AS
OF JUNE 15.


4. (C) COMMENT: WE PRESUME THIS IS NOT NEWS TO THE READERS
MOST DIRECTLY AFFECTED, BUT PASS IT ON FOR WHAT IT MAY BE
WORTH. NO OTHER MEMBER OF THE NORWEGIAN DELEGATION DEMURRED.


5. (U) BAGHDAD MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.
MORAN