NORWAY READY TO SEND BOOTS TO DARFUR UNPKO

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000426

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2016
TAGS: MARR PREL MCAP MOPS UN SU NO KPKO
SUBJECT: NORWAY READY TO SEND BOOTS TO DARFUR UNPKO

REF: SECSTATE 51778

Classified By: P/E Counselor Mike Hammer, reason 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) We delivered reftel to MOD Operations Planning Chief
Brigadier General Roar Sundseth and MFA DAS for Global
Security Policy Siren Eriksen on April 3-4. Sundseth told us
that Norway is prepared, when asked by the UN, to send one
company (150 to 200 personnel) to support a blue helmet
operation in Darfur. Sundseth said that Norway envisaged
that these Norwegian Troops could be tailored to fulfill one
of three types of mission: a quick reaction force, section
commander protection, or a mine clearing unit. (Note.
Sundseth cautioned, that if Norway would fulfill a mine
clearing function, the number of troops would be smaller.
End Note.) Sundseth indicated that this was as much as
Norway could do militarily without drawing down its current
commitments in Afghanistan. However, Sundseth said that, as
with all UN Peace Keeping Operations (UNPKO),Norway believes
that a commitment in Darfur will be long-term, and Norway is
prepared to stay the course.


2. (C) Sundseth hoped that any Norwegian deployment would
come as late in the year as possible to limit the strain on
the 2006 budget, but that, despite budget concerns, Norway
would be prepared to step up when needed. The MOD is
weighing whether to request that the Norwegian Parliament
pass a supplemental budget to support Norway's military
contribution to Sudan.


3. (C) MFA DAS Eriksen confirmed that there is across the
board support in the Norwegian government to support a UNPKO
in Darfur, and that Norway would be prepared to contribute
militarily when approached by the UN. Eriksen noted that
Norway has been in close touch with the UN Department of
Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO),which was well aware of
Norwegian intentions to contribute. When asked if Norway had
additional non-military resources to support a Darfur PKO,
she said Norway would also consider contributing a small
number of civilian police, if this was requested by the UN.


4. (C) On the heels of UN Special Envoy Jan Egeland's
difficulties in traveling to Darfur this week, Eriksen said
that Norway's main concern is whether the Government of Sudan
will accept a UN presence in Darfur at all. It is hard to
imagine any circumstances where a UNPKO could be introduced
into Darfur against the wishes of the Sudanese government.
She also wondered whether we had insights into Sudanese
attitudes towards NATO, and whether these were different from
Sudanese attitudes towards the UN, or if the Sudanese
government had a general aversion to having Western troops on
the ground.


5. (C) Comment: Sundseth's comments that Norway could not
send more than a company of soldiers to Sudan without
negatively affecting Norwegian deployments elsewhere
accurately reflects the limitations faced by Norway's small
army. Also, Sudan (including Darfur) is already one of the
largest recipients of Norwegian aid. If there are specific
ways in which the UN can capitalize on Norway's willingness
to contribute in Darfur, like civilian police, it may be
worth the UN asking. Otherwise, we believe that there is
very little scope for Norway to do more than it is already
offering to do.


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