Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06OSLO279
2006-03-09 13:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:
NORWAY HAS NO PLANS TO RECEIVE HAMAS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHNY #0279 0681354 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 091354Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY OSLO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3598 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000279
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/IPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2016
TAGS: PREL EAID PTER NO KPAL
SUBJECT: NORWAY HAS NO PLANS TO RECEIVE HAMAS
REF: SECSTATE 37552
Classified By: P/E Counselor Mike Hammer, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000279
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/IPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2016
TAGS: PREL EAID PTER NO KPAL
SUBJECT: NORWAY HAS NO PLANS TO RECEIVE HAMAS
REF: SECSTATE 37552
Classified By: P/E Counselor Mike Hammer, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) We delivered reftel demarche to MFA Middle East
Office Director Joern Gjelstad on March 9. Gjelstad took
note of our comments and promised that he would convey our
message upward. Gjelstad said that Norway did not have
regular political level contact with Hamas; however, at the
local government level the Norwegian mission in Ramallah does
meet with Hamas officials regarding a Norwegian development
assistance programs to local Palestinian communities. These
meetings are characterized not by political discussions, but
are programmatic, focused on the distribution of Norwegian
aid and the progress of funded aid projects, and will
continue.
2. (C) Norway's recent decision to follow the UN's terrorist
designation list instead of the EU's does mean that Norway no
longer officially considers Hamas a terrorist organization.
Gjelstad assured us that this decision was taken to allow
Norway to better facilitate peace efforts in Sri Lanka (the
LTTE is listed as a terrorist organization by the EU, but not
the by the UN),not with a view toward establishing a future
relationship with Hamas. Gjelstad acknowledged that there is
no domestic legal reason for Norway not to meet with Hamas,
but this is a step that politically Norway does not envisage
at this time and Norway had no current plans to receive Hamas
at a senior or political level. He also assured us that
Norway would not initiate any political overture to Hamas
without close prior consultation with the US and other
western donors.
Visit Oslo's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/oslo/index.cf m
WHITNEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/IPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2016
TAGS: PREL EAID PTER NO KPAL
SUBJECT: NORWAY HAS NO PLANS TO RECEIVE HAMAS
REF: SECSTATE 37552
Classified By: P/E Counselor Mike Hammer, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) We delivered reftel demarche to MFA Middle East
Office Director Joern Gjelstad on March 9. Gjelstad took
note of our comments and promised that he would convey our
message upward. Gjelstad said that Norway did not have
regular political level contact with Hamas; however, at the
local government level the Norwegian mission in Ramallah does
meet with Hamas officials regarding a Norwegian development
assistance programs to local Palestinian communities. These
meetings are characterized not by political discussions, but
are programmatic, focused on the distribution of Norwegian
aid and the progress of funded aid projects, and will
continue.
2. (C) Norway's recent decision to follow the UN's terrorist
designation list instead of the EU's does mean that Norway no
longer officially considers Hamas a terrorist organization.
Gjelstad assured us that this decision was taken to allow
Norway to better facilitate peace efforts in Sri Lanka (the
LTTE is listed as a terrorist organization by the EU, but not
the by the UN),not with a view toward establishing a future
relationship with Hamas. Gjelstad acknowledged that there is
no domestic legal reason for Norway not to meet with Hamas,
but this is a step that politically Norway does not envisage
at this time and Norway had no current plans to receive Hamas
at a senior or political level. He also assured us that
Norway would not initiate any political overture to Hamas
without close prior consultation with the US and other
western donors.
Visit Oslo's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/oslo/index.cf m
WHITNEY