NORWAY PROPOSES HIGH NORTH SEMINAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000402

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2016
TAGS: PREL ENRG SENV NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY PROPOSES HIGH NORTH SEMINAR

Classified By: Political / Economic Counselor Mike Hammer
for reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (SBU) Following up on the pitch Foreign Minister Stoere
made to A/S Fried on continuing the U.S.-Norway High North
dialogue, the Norwegians are proposing a meeting on the High
North at the Department in late May / early June. The MFA
envisions a half-day seminar where they will present on how
energy, energy security, environment, transportation and
fisheries issues converge in the High North. They would then
like to hear the Department's views and define areas of
mutual interest for further engagement.


2. (SBU) While Norwegians want energy to be the focus, they
want to reinforce their view that the High North is a area
where several issues beyond energy converge. They would like
Department and other agency experts on environment,
transportation, and fisheries present for the duration of the
discussions to avoid compartmentalizing issues.


3. (SBU) Ideally, Norwegians would like to use the meeting
to launch working level discussions among a core group of
individuals that would continue beyond this session. The
Norwegian delegation would be led by the MFA and would
include members of the Ministries of Petroleum and Energy,
Transportation, and Fisheries and Coastal Affairs. U.S.
representation would presumably be from State and DOE.
Norway has conducted similar "High North" meetings with
officials in London, Berlin, Paris, Ottawa, and the EU.


4. (C) Comment: While the Norwegians do not have the
clearest sense for where they are going on the "High North"
(making talks a bit nebulous) we believe that it is important
that we engage them. Norway is interested in our views on
the High North and they are keen to continue discussions with
us on a region that matters very much to them and is becoming
increasingly important to us. Energy and energy security are
natural starting points as the Norwegian government has made
the High North a strategic priority and given that we have an
interest in how Norway develops its potentially vast
hydrocarbon resources in the Barents. End Comment

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