Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06OSLO1498
2006-12-13 15:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:  

NORWAY UNVEILS HIGH NORTH STRATEGY

Tags:  PREL SENV ENRG EIND RU NO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4153
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHNY #1498/01 3471527
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 131527Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4991
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 3925
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 2 OSLO 001498 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NB, B/ESC/IEC, AND L

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2016
TAGS: PREL SENV ENRG EIND RU NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY UNVEILS HIGH NORTH STRATEGY

REF: OSLO 1496

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Kevin M. Jhnson for reasons 1.4
b and d

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 2 OSLO 001498

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NB, B/ESC/IEC, AND L

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2016
TAGS: PREL SENV ENRG EIND RU NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY UNVEILS HIGH NORTH STRATEGY

REF: OSLO 1496

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Kevin M. Jhnson for reasons 1.4
b and d


1. (SBU) SUMMRY: Norway's recently unveiled High North
stratgy combines domestic and regional policies to promote
economic and social development in the region improve
scientific understanding of the BarentsSea, and bolster
economic and social ties with Rssia -- including a proposal
to establish an ecoomic and industrial cooperation zone
along their shared High North border. The strategy combines
policies from various ministries into a single document and
sets overall goals for developing the High North. Norwegians
are keen to work with international partners, the U.S.
included (reftel),to share in the region's economic future.
Post is crafting a high worth engagement approach to both
explore new initiatives and highlight those underway. END
SUMMARY

CONTINUE ECONOMIC GROWTH, RESPECT INDIGENOUS RIGHTS
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2. (U) The strategy notes that construction activity
associated with the build-out of the Snohvit LNG project has
brought an economic windfall to one part of the Norwegian
High North. By encouraging the use of local contractors for
any future energy projects, the Norwegian government will try
to broaden regional benefits from energy activities and boost
local competence. While energy is a key economic driver in
the region, the Norwegians also want to diversify the High
North economic base by fostering new industries such as
marine bio-prospecting and cod farming. In addition to
supporting new economic development, the High North strategy
ensures indigenous peoples' (Sami) are able to continue their
traditional economic activity by protecting animal husbandry
areas and coastal and inland fisheries.

INCREASE COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA
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3. (SBU) The strategy calls for engagement with Russia on
economic, environmental, and educational fronts. Specific

areas of focus include cooperation to fight counterfeit
imports, continued work on nuclear safety, and increased
educational exchanges with Russian students. A
Norwegian-Russian industrial cooperation zone straddling the
Norwegian-Russian border is also proposed as a way to both
deepen the economic relationship and to reuse some of the
region's cold war infrastructure. MFA officials have told us
that Norwegians plan to discuss details of an industrial zone
with Russian counterparts in January 2007. To facilitate
economic development, the strategy calls for feasibility
studies on a rail link from Nikel (on the Russian side of the
Norwegian border) to Narvik on the Norwegian Sea coast. A
grander vision would link Norway to a proposed Northern
East-West Freight Corridor providing access to Asian or North
American markets via Russia and Narvik.

WORK TO STOP UNREGULATED FISHING
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4. (U) Norwegians have been aggressively enforcing
environmental regulations in their part of the Barents Sea.
The strategy continues this policy and calls for improved
coordination among local authorities, the Norwegian Coast
Guard, and military to better enforce environmental and
fisheries agreements, particularly around the Svalbard
archipelago and the northern Barents Sea. The strategy also
calls for increased international cooperation (particularly
with Russia) to stop illegal, unregulated, and unreported
fishing in the Barents region.

ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS DEVELOPMENT
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5. (SBU) The strategy states that Norway will favor
environmental over economic interests in future development
decisions and that Norway will work to fully implement the
Comprehensive Management Plan for the Barents's Region that
set limits on petroleum exploration close to the Norwegian
coast and around the sensitive Lofoten islands. (COMMENT:
Public strategy statements that place environmental concerns
above commercial interests in the region likely signal
another compromise that the Labor led coalition has had to
make with its less commercially friendly Socialist Left
coalition partner. END COMMENT) The strategy also calls for
increasing protections in Svalbard to maintain biodiversity
in the archipelago. Additional research on the impact of
climate change and organic pollutants on the High North and

OSLO 00001498 002 OF 002


continued work on transportation safety and emergency
preparedness in the Barents Sea region will be supported.
Norwegians will propose adding an ice capable research vessel
to maintain Norwegian research and national presence in the
area year round.

U.S. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
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6. (SBU) A recent energy security conference held in Oslo
(septel),our on-going High North dialogue, and Mission
participation in High North seminars demonstrates our
continuing interest in this region. Post is reviewing
additional areas where we can work with Norway in response to
their strategy including promoting educational exchanges for
students and researchers, deepening commercial participation
in High North development, and cooperation in renewable and
traditional energy development programs. A permanent U.S.
research presence on Svalbard and possible U.S. support for
resolving legal disputes over Svalbard are other initiatives.

COMMENT
- - - -


6. (C) Norway continues to push its High North agenda on
energy, environmental and economic fronts. Norway's most
important goal is really domestic, namely to revitalize the
region to keep it populated. We see opportunities for
engagement, however. Additional oil and gas discoveries in
the region will make Norway's economic development plans more
realistic, but ultimately, their strategy relies on
successful cooperation with Russia. Norwegians know that
U.S. engagement on High North issues is critical to garnering
international consensus on maritime, environmental, and
energy development issues. They also believe that the U.S.
can serve as an effective counterweight to Russia in areas
where Norwegian and Russian interests diverge such as the
status of the waters off Svalbard and in their ongoing
negotiations over the Barents Sea grey zone.
Whitney