NORWAY LIKELY TO FOLLOW EU-3 ON IRAN REFERRAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000046 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2016 TAGS: PARM KNNP PREL AORC IR NO SUBJECT: NORWAY LIKELY TO FOLLOW EU-3 ON IRAN REFERRAL REF: A. SCHULTE-HAMMER 1/10/2006 E-MAIL ¶B. STATE 5477 Classified By: P/E Counselor Mike Hammer, reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On January 11, following up on ref A, we asked Norwegian MFA DAS for Nonproliferation and Disarmament Jan Arve Knutsen about Norwegian intentions as a member of the IAEA Board. Knutsen replied that Norway was still hoping for a solution short of referring Iran to the UN Security Council. However, Knutsen acknowledged that Norway would likely follow the lead of the EU3, and, if the EU3 support referring Iran to the UNSC, Norway will most probably follow suit. We will seek confirmation when we deliver ref B, once EU High Representative Solana has made his statement on January 12. ¶2. (C) Knutsen also shared with us the internal MFA briefing paper and talking points for use with the press that was given to Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Stoere on the morning of January 11. An unofficial Embassy translation of those points is given below. Begin unofficial translation of MFA press points: - The recent developments in Iran are very disturbing. Iran cannot disregard the demands made by the international community, something that was also underlined by Mohammed ElBaradei yesterday. - From the Norwegian side, we uphold that Iran must live up to the IAEA,s demands. It is not acceptable that the country resumes its program to enrich uranium. - ElBaradei has previously underlined that the international community is about to lose its patience in Iran. The Iranian actions will increase the probability for this question ending up in the UN Security Council. End Embassy translation. ¶3. (U) The Norwegian MFA called in the Iranian Ambassador on January 12. Reporting on the meeting, FM Stoere told the press, "Norwegian alarm that the IAEA seals on Iranian atomic installations have been broken has been conveyed in clear terms, as well as the fact that this can be the first step on the way to the matter coming before the (UN) Security Council." Visit Oslo's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/oslo/index.cf m WHITNEY NNNN