CFE EQUIPMENT ENTITLEMENT TRANSFERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000996 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPUTY DIRECTOR JENNIFER LAURENDEAU, EUR/RPM E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2016 TAGS: NATO PREL PARM NO KCFE SUBJECT: CFE EQUIPMENT ENTITLEMENT TRANSFERS REF: A. 8/8/06 CLASSIFIED EMAIL FROM LAURENDEAU TO CANUEL ¶B. OSLO 902 ¶C. STATE 116608 Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Kristen Bauer, reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On August 11 we met with Lars Loken, Senior Adviser in the MFA's Section for Disarmament and Nonproliferation. Per reftel c, Loken stated that Norway has made a "firm decision" to approve 31 artillery pieces for the Conventional Forces Europe (CFE) entitlement transfer involving Norway, Greece and Turkey. Given that he has not had an opportunity to speak with his Turkish and Greek colleagues, Loken cannot presently assess their perspectives on the entitlement issue. ¶2. (C) Loken explained why Norway cannot assist with tank and Armored Combat Vehicle (ACV) entitlements. He noted that Norway needs its existing tank reserves, particularly if his country's army "moves into a restructuring phase." Loken also stated that Norway's ACV reserves must be kept at current levels, citing the need for ACVs in potential peace-keeping operations. ¶3. (C) He suggested that Greece and Turkey share quotas in the ACV category, and pointed out that such proposal should come directly from the U.S. (without acknowledging that Norway proposed this scenario). Original transfer proposals had Greece providing ACVs, Turkey assisting with the tanks and Norway handling the artillery. Loken believes there were tensions between Greece and Turkey regarding this scenario, with Greece feeling that it was "giving away more than Turkey." ¶4. (C) Loken was curious to know whether the U.S. had been reaching out to Ankara and Athens. Per ref a, we noted that the Greeks have asked the U.S. for consultations. Visit Oslo's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/oslo/index.cf m JOHNSON