Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06REYKJAVIK102
2006-03-23 17:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Reykjavik
Cable title:
ICELAND: ADDITIONAL IRAQ ASSISTANCE NOT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0020 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHRK #0102 0821709 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 231709Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2651 INFO RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0193 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000102
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL IZ IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND: ADDITIONAL IRAQ ASSISTANCE NOT
CURRENTLY ON THE TABLE
REF: (A) STATE 44648, (B) REYKJAVIK 69
UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000102
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL IZ IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND: ADDITIONAL IRAQ ASSISTANCE NOT
CURRENTLY ON THE TABLE
REF: (A) STATE 44648, (B) REYKJAVIK 69
1. (SBU) Post briefed Icelandic MFA Head of Security
and Disarmament Division Thordur Bjarni Gudjonsson
March 23 on the President's budget requests for Iraq
(ref A). Asked the current Icelandic thinking on
additional assistance for Iraqi reconstruction,
Gudjonsson referenced Reykjavik's recent donation to
the NATO Training Mission-Iraq (ref B) and said nothing
further was planned at present. Referring to the U.S.
decision announced this month to draw down Naval Air
Station Keflavik (NASKEF) he added, "After the last
blow we have use for all the spare cash we can find."
2. (SBU) Comment: The Government of Iceland has long
argued that the U.S. should view its contributions
(e.g. of airlift, peacekeepers, and cash) to NATO
operations as counterbalancing Icelandic unwillingness
to contribute to the costs of its own defense, e.g. by
contributing to the NASKEF budget. We will be watching
to see whether the Government now adopts a systematic
policy of declining to participate in international
endeavors on the grounds that the U.S. has undercut
Iceland's ability to act generously. In light of its
bid to join the 2009-10 UN Security Council, we predict
any reluctance to be an international player will be
short-lived. End comment.
VAN VOORST
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL IZ IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND: ADDITIONAL IRAQ ASSISTANCE NOT
CURRENTLY ON THE TABLE
REF: (A) STATE 44648, (B) REYKJAVIK 69
1. (SBU) Post briefed Icelandic MFA Head of Security
and Disarmament Division Thordur Bjarni Gudjonsson
March 23 on the President's budget requests for Iraq
(ref A). Asked the current Icelandic thinking on
additional assistance for Iraqi reconstruction,
Gudjonsson referenced Reykjavik's recent donation to
the NATO Training Mission-Iraq (ref B) and said nothing
further was planned at present. Referring to the U.S.
decision announced this month to draw down Naval Air
Station Keflavik (NASKEF) he added, "After the last
blow we have use for all the spare cash we can find."
2. (SBU) Comment: The Government of Iceland has long
argued that the U.S. should view its contributions
(e.g. of airlift, peacekeepers, and cash) to NATO
operations as counterbalancing Icelandic unwillingness
to contribute to the costs of its own defense, e.g. by
contributing to the NASKEF budget. We will be watching
to see whether the Government now adopts a systematic
policy of declining to participate in international
endeavors on the grounds that the U.S. has undercut
Iceland's ability to act generously. In light of its
bid to join the 2009-10 UN Security Council, we predict
any reluctance to be an international player will be
short-lived. End comment.
VAN VOORST