Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06OSLO1495
2006-12-11 15:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:  

NORWAY: PARLIAMENTARY PRESIDENT ON SENDING FORCES

Tags:  PREL PINR PGOV AF NO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1772
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHNY #1495/01 3451512
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 111512Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4987
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0160
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1315
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OSLO 001495 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PINR PGOV AF NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY: PARLIAMENTARY PRESIDENT ON SENDING FORCES
TO AFGHANISTAN, MIDDLE EAST, JSF

Classified By: DCM Kevin M. Johnson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OSLO 001495

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PINR PGOV AF NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY: PARLIAMENTARY PRESIDENT ON SENDING FORCES
TO AFGHANISTAN, MIDDLE EAST, JSF

Classified By: DCM Kevin M. Johnson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

Summary
--------------

1. (C) In a December 8 meeting with DCM and P/E Couns,
Thorbjorn Jagland, Parliamentary President and senior Labor
Party statesman, reviewed Norway's debate over sending forces
to southern Afghanistan. Jagland has very publicly favored
sending more troops, and is optimistic that the GON will
reconsider its decision in the New Year. On the Middle East,
Jagland is deeply concerned and urged the US to lead the
parties into negotiations on final status issues quickly.
End Summary.

Afghanistan
--------------

2. (C) In a December 8 meeting with DCM and P/E Couns,
Thorbjorn Jagland, President of the Storting (Parliament) and
senior Labor Party statesman, discussed current political
issues in Norway. Jagland has very publicly criticized the
GON's decision to reject NATO's request to send forces to
southern Afghanistan. Commenting on his stance, Jagland said
there is pressure within Norway's Labor Party to move on this
matter. He praised the Embassy's approach to the matter so
far, citing the Ambassador's speech, but suggested now is the
time to hold back as things are working in the right
direction. He said NATO would be wise to wait until the New
Year before asking again for Norway to commit more troops,
but implied at that point a positive answer might be
forthcoming. He acknowledged that the public debate so far
has unduly focused on the need for civil sector support in
Afghanistan, forgetting that the military side must also be
addressed.


3. (C) Jagland reflected that his outspoken position on this
matter was disliked by some, but respected by others. He
criticized Labor's coalition partner, the Social Left Party
(SV),for bringing matters prematurely to the media, thereby
blocking full discussion within the government. He noted
that there is a big majority in the Storting in favor of
sending more troops, and it was "bad for democracy for the
small SV to decide such issues against this majority."



4. (C) The DCM raised the GON's efforts to promote a new UN
mechanism to coordinate civilian aid in Afghanistan. He
pointed out the difficulties a new layer would add and the
stressed the importance of Afghan government ownership of the
process.

Middle East
--------------

5. (C) Jagland has long been involved in the Middle East and
had just recently returned from visiting Israel and the
Palestine territories. He characterized Israel as having a
very weak government, or indeed, several governments.
Meanwhile, he doubted Palestine would ever have a Unity
Government. If no alternative to Hamas is established,
people will continue to support extremists. Palestinians
themselves, he said, are not extreme, especially on the West
Bank, and do not want fundamentalists to take over. He
strongly believes that the parties must move quickly to final
status negotiations and a referendum, without waiting for a
Unity Government to form. He noted that the Oslo Accords
allow for the PLO to negotiate on behalf of Palestinians.
Providing some hope for the future to average Palestinians,
such as real preparation for a comprehensive agreement, is
the way to weaken Hamas, he said.


6. (C) Answering a question about the GON's engagement of
Hamas, Jagland said that his view has changed over time and
he now believes that it is important for Norway to be in sync
with other countries in isolating Hamas. Hamas, he stressed,
really means it when it threatens to wipe Israel out of
existence. Jagland then returned to his main theme that the
peace process must get back on track and only the US through
its leadership can make this happen.


7. (C) Discussing Norwegian views of Israel, Jagland said
that they are very supportive of Israel but see what is
happening in Palestine and sympathize with "the tragedy of
the Palestinian people." Israel's actions in Palestine, he
commented, are seen as just hurting Israel itself. He
claimed that more people travel to Palestine from Norway than
from any other country, and so there is a high level of first
hand knowledge.

JSF and the Russians
--------------

OSLO 00001495 002 OF 002



8. (C) Commenting on GON plans to purchase a new fighter jet,
Jagland felt the selection process has improved because there
is greater competition among JSF, Eurofighter and Gripen. He
is convinced that Norway must have a new fighter to maintain
its independence from Russia. SV's desire to rely on ships
was impracticable and reflected a view--shared with the
EU--that underestimates the Russians.

Bio Notes
--------------

9. (C) Jagland was leader of the Labor Party 1992 to 2002.
During that time, he served as PM from 1996-1997. He lost
his job as party leader in 2002 to current PM, Jens
Stoltenberg. Jagland also served as FM from March 2000 to
October 2001. He has been a strong supporter of the
bilateral relationship and clearly feels uncomfortable with
SV's role in helping determine the coalition government's
foreign policy.
Whitney