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.
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WHITNEY