Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06OSLO1496
2006-12-11 16:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:  

NORWAY: MANAGING THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP

Tags:  ENRG NO PGOV PINR PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1862
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHNY #1496/01 3451627
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 111627Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4989
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OSLO 001496 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2016
TAGS: ENRG NO PGOV PINR PREL
SUBJECT: NORWAY: MANAGING THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP


Classified By: Ambassador Whitney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

Summary
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OSLO 001496

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2016
TAGS: ENRG NO PGOV PINR PREL
SUBJECT: NORWAY: MANAGING THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP


Classified By: Ambassador Whitney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

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

1. (C) Summary. On December 6, MFA State Secretary Liv
Monica Stubholt, who recently took on the US portfolio, met
with the Ambassador for a tour d'horizon. Both agreed that
key ways to deepen the already strong relationship included
increasing educational exchanges, finding joint projects
regarding the High North, and highlighting our joint efforts
in Afghanistan and other global hotspots. In areas where we
do have disagreements, both wanted to move from simply
ensuring the other party was not surprised at announcements
to consulting more deeply and further in advance on these
issues. Monthly meetings were established to do this. End
Summary.

Reviewing the Relationship
--------------

2. (C) MFA State Secretary Stubholt recently took over the US
portfolio and met with the Ambassador on December 6 to review
the relationship. She is pleased with her new responsibility
and looks forward to increasing and broadening her engagement
to further foster the relationship. She noted that we have a
wide range of common interests and it is important not to
forget the many obvious points of agreement. The
relationship should not be problem driven, but rather a
comprehensive whole that reflects our many positive issues.
She is worried about the declining numbers of Norwegians
studying in the US, which has a measurable effect on the
relationship.


3. (C) The Ambassador agreed on the importance of students,
saying that people-to-people ties are the heart of our
relationship and that he is extremely committed to increasing
educational exchanges. He noted his plans to travel with the
Norwegian Ambassador to the US to visit American universities
and encourage more exchanges and highlighted the many ways
the Embassy is promoting exchanges in Norway.


4. (C) Turning to the broader relationship, the Ambassador
reviewed the "no surprises" policy and the plans to move
towards a deeper consultative process prior to decisions

being finalized. He noted the cluster bomb initiative and
other decisions could have benefited from fuller consultation
prior to announcement and welcomed plans to have monthly
meetings to ensure deeper consultations. He agreed on the
importance of highlighting our positive agenda, which ranges
from anti-corruption efforts to the High North.

High North
--------------

5. (C) Both sides welcomed the bilateral High North energy
discussions taking place December 7 (see septel) as an
important recognition of our common interest in the Arctic
regions. Stubholt explained that the GON wants to be open
and transparent about the High North, keeping in mind its
international character. She noted that Russia's role and
climate change issues, both key to the High North, require
international solutions. She was instrumental in drafting
the strategy paper that the GON just released on the High
North (see septel) and said it was essentially an invitation
for other countries to identify areas of common interest in
which progress could be made. Proposals, which included
funding a modern research ship, mapping the seabed, and
encouraging more settlement in the High North, may have
greater appeal if there is shared interest. The Ambassador
welcomed the GON's initiative and promised to provide a list
of possible joint activities.

Working Together Around the World
--------------

6. (C) Turning to the many global hot spots where the GON and
US have common interests, the Ambassador encouraged Stubholt
to consider how we can better highlight our shared efforts to
the Norwegian people. Stubholt agreed that our joint efforts
in Somalia, Sudan, and Sri Lanka lead to stronger bilateral
ties and are a key part of our relationship. She noted the
GON's interest in Cuba and explained that the MFA hopes to
visit the State Department soon with its Cuban experts to
discuss the road forward.


7. (C) On Afghanistan, the Ambassador welcomed the GON's
decision to contribute to the NATO NRF and recent PM
statements that there are no restrictions on Norwegian troops
serving in Southern Afghanistan. He hoped that the GON will
be able to make further force contributions in Afghanistan,
stating that it is critical for NATO to succeed throughout
Afghanistan. Stubholt said that there is an artificial
division between North and South Afghanistan in the Norwegian
political debate, but reiterated the government line that the

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GON has already made a decent contribution in Afghanistan.


8. (C) Referring to the current Parliamentary budget debate,
Stubholt noted that there is a growing focus on human rights
issues. Specifically, the opposition is questioning whether
the GON has toned down its human rights dialog with Russia in
order to gain cooperation in the High North and elsewhere.
She argued that the GON has not and pointed out that only two
days ago the FM raised the issue with Russian officials.
Norway continues to stress concerns about Belarus, the rights
of journalists in Russia, and the denial of visas for
Norwegian journalists. Norway is also focusing on the
rights of indigenous people, especially the Sami who live in
northern Norway and Russia.


9. (C) Answering questions on UN Reform and the Human Rights
Council, Stubholt said that UN reform remains a central issue
for her government. Norway is a good friend of the UN, but
is also a demanding customer seeking efficiency and
professionalism. Norway is urging that the UN speak with one
voice in developing countries, avoiding disparate views from
UN agencies and a resulting lack of accountability for the
UN. While the issues are complicated, reform is clearly
needed. On the Human Rights Council, Norway wants it to
work. To do that, it must have support from key players such
as the US and thus must listen to US concerns about its
overwhelming focus on Israel.

EU and Turkey
--------------

10. (C) The DCM welcomed Norway's statement supporting the EU
keeping a door open to Turkey's inclusion. Stubholt said her
government will focus on this and on enlargement generally.
For Norway, enlargement is important both because it affects
the relationship with the EU and also because new EU members
become members of the EEA, thus affecting Norway's trade
relationships.

Local Issues: the NEC and the Pension Fund
--------------

11. (C) The Ambassador briefed Stubholt on the status of the
NEC and reiterated his concern about the Ministry of
Finance's ethical investing process for the Norwegian pension
fund. He stressed that the pension fund is about to become
the largest such investor in the world and as such has a
powerful role to play as a model for others. It should be
aware of its power and ensure its processes are fair and
transparent.

Looking Ahead
--------------

12. (C) Stubholt will be traveling to the US in February or
March and asked for Embassy input into her schedule. She
also noted an upcoming Corporate Social Responsibility
Conference that will include many international speakers and
which offers an opportunity for US involvement. Both sides
looked forward to regular meetings to consult on the
relationship.

Bio Note
--------------

13. (C) Stubholt is from the Center Party. An attorney
specializing in EU trade and community law, she entered
politics over 10 years ago and has previously served as
Central Advisor to the Center Party Parliamentary Group. Her
party's rural base is especially interested in keeping the
countryside populated and in providing infrastructure and
services to far-flung areas. She is the GON lead on High
North issues and is passionate about them. Unusual for
Norway, Stubholt is vocally Christian, wearing a belt with a
prominent cross when briefing the diplomatic corps recently.
Her passing reference to God in a discussion with the
Ambassador was a rare occurrence here. Relatively, outgoing
and enthusiastic, Stubholt should be an effective advocate
for our common interests.
Whitney