NORWEGIANS WILL DONATE TO WAR CRIMES CHAMBER

UNCLAS OSLO 000326 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/ACE DONNA VISOCAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV NO SUBJECT: NORWEGIANS WILL DONATE TO WAR CRIMES CHAMBER REF: A. STATE 31612 ¶B. OSLO 00262 ¶1. On March 14 we delivered reftel A points to Jan Braathu, Deputy Director General and Section Head for Western Balkan Affairs, Jo Sletback, Assistant Director General for Western Balkan Affairs and Tora Faeste, U.S. Desk Officer at the MFA. Braathu, saying that the U.S. and Norway see "eye-to-eye" on the importance of the Chamber, committed to the continued financial support of the Chamber. According to our March 16 conference with Per Ivar Lied, an Advisor with the MFA's Western Balkan Affairs Section, Norway has not yet determined the amount of its monetary contribution. Lied noted that the definitive Norwegian Chamber pledge amount would be finalized prior to the March 31 Brussels Conference. ¶2. Sletback underscored the War Crimes Chamber Conference's "important role" in Norwegian foreign policy, as demonstrated by Norway's previous financial support and the active involvement of Norwegian judges and prosecutors seconded to the Chamber. He outlined Norway's "strong commitment" to the Balkan region, pointing out that Norway pledged approximately 114 million dollars to Balkan states in 2005. These pledges were directed to a broad range of aid programs, including NGO support, law enforcement training and judicial reform. Visit Oslo's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/oslo/index.cf m WHITNEY