IRAN AND LIBYA SANCTIONS ACT (ILSA) POINTS

UNCLAS OSLO 000001 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC ENRG EPET PREL IR NO SUBJECT: IRAN AND LIBYA SANCTIONS ACT (ILSA) POINTS DELIVERED TO NORWAY REF: A) SECSTATE 228174 B) OSLO 1372 ¶1. (SBU) On December 30 Acting Political/Economic Chief delivered reftel points regarding USG concerns about Norsk Hydro's oil discovery in Iran's Anaran Field and its deal for the Khorramabad block to Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Energy Advisor Ambassador Janne Julsrud and to Norsk Hydro Company Secretary/Legal Counsel Benedikte Bjorn. ¶2. (SBU) Julsrud said that Norway was fully aware of ILSA's provisions and their implications for Hydro's activities in Iran. The Norwegian government engaged in a continuous dialogue with both major Norwegian petroleum firms, Statoil and Norsk Hydro, about their operations in Iran. As part of that dialogue, said Julsrud, the government advises the firms to exercise caution in their business dealings there and to take care not to run afoul of ILSA. The Norwegian government shared many of our concerns about Iran's policies and human rights record, though not to such an extent that it would advise Norwegian firms to pull out. ¶3. (SBU) Hydro Counsel Bjorn offered no substantive comment on the demarche points but pledged to inform appropriate Hydro executives, most of whom were either out of the country on business or away for the holidays. Bjorn hoped Hydro could give a fuller response sometime after New Years once she had consulted with other company officers. Visit Oslo's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/oslo/index.cf m WEBSTER NNNN