Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06REYKJAVIK120
2006-04-03 18:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Reykjavik
Cable title:  

ICELAND REACTION: OPTIMISTIC TONE FOLLOWING MARCH

Tags:  NATO MARR PREL KPAO IIP ECA IC 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRK #0120/01 0931828
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031828Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2681
INFO RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0203
UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000120 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE,SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: NATO MARR PREL KPAO IIP ECA IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND REACTION: OPTIMISTIC TONE FOLLOWING MARCH
31 BILATERAL DEFENSE TALKS

Ref A: Reykjavik 107
Ref B: Reykjavik 108

UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000120

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE,SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: NATO MARR PREL KPAO IIP ECA IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND REACTION: OPTIMISTIC TONE FOLLOWING MARCH
31 BILATERAL DEFENSE TALKS

Ref A: Reykjavik 107
Ref B: Reykjavik 108


1. (SBU) Summary: The Government and news media of Iceland,
for the most part, have echoed FM Haarde's cautious optimism
over the round of bilateral defense talks in Reykjavik 3/31.
The two leading newspapers published editorials praising the
talks for providing the first step toward clarifying the
defense issue and for demonstrating the seriousness with
which the United States views the issue. The USG has
promised a detailed EUCOM defense plan for Iceland in April
- Haarde's degree of satisfaction with the plan should
largely define media reaction. End Summary.


2. (U) Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Mark Pekala was
widely quoted by the news media, telling the press after the
talks that the U.S. Government is working on plans for the
defense of Iceland and will evaluate defense
requirements-the need for personnel and materiel-after the
fighters had gone. He said the U.S. delegation had listened
to the comments, questions, and ideas advanced by the
Icelandic delegation. He added that more meetings would
take place in the near future in Reykjavik, Washington and
perhaps elsewhere. Mr. Pekala said he thought this work
would lead to stronger defense for this country and for the
United States.

--------------
Ministerial Reaction
--------------

3. (U) Foreign Minister Geir Haarde told reporters after the
March 31 defense talks (see Ref B) that the Icelandic
Government did not have many options regarding defense. He
said, "We will continue discussing the matter with friendly
nations in NATO. but I do not consider it realistic to
assume that other countries could take on the role that the
United States has played here." "The next step," the
Foreign Minister said, "is for [the Americans] to continue
preparing plans for Iceland's defense, and then present them
to us in a few weeks' time." He said he hopes Iceland's
views are accommodated, and added that Iceland hopes the
United States will clarify what it plans to do with certain
facilities, such as the IADS radar stations.


4. (U) When asked whether he was more at peace now than when
he received the March 15 phone call from U/S Burns,
informing him of the decision to close the base, Haarde
said: "Yes, I could say I am, as far as it goes. I think
things are moving in the right direction, compared to what
has gone before. We naturally hope that there will not be a
defense vacuum here, and that whatever replaces the fighters
will be sufficient. We want a credible defense, or plans for
credible defense, which would ensure that no one would ever
think of making a surprise attack on this country."


5. (U) Prime Minister Halldor Asgrimsson told reporters at a
meeting of the Progressive Party March 31 that U.S. behavior
in recent weeks has been disappointing. He said the defense
talks have been launched but that nothing new had been
proposed. He said that once the U.S. presents its plan for
the defense of Iceland, in about one month, if Iceland
believes the plan is unsatisfactory, then it would consult
with other NATO countries to explore other options.

--------------
Opinion
--------------

6. (U) The generally upbeat mood of the Foreign Minister was
reflected in editorials published by the two leading
Icelandic newspapers over the weekend. Frettabladid (the
largest circulation daily with a print run of 75,000),said
a new chapter in relations has begun. Its editorial said:
"This meeting had been anticipated with much excitement. No
result came out of the meeting since everyone expected small
steps to be taken at the beginning of the talks. After the
meeting one could sense that the focus was clearer than
before. Even if political leaders have different reactions
to the meeting, the focus is clearer." Morgunbladid, the
newspaper of record (52,000) that is close to Haarde's
Independence Party, said in its editorial: "Even though we
may have strongly disapproved of the way in which the United
States went to work on the matter a few weeks ago, there is
reason to welcome the seriousness with which that country is
approaching this new task. The best option for Iceland, in
the present state of affairs, is ongoing cooperation with
the United States on defense. So, after the first
negotiating session, there is cause to pin some hopes on
these talks."


7. (SBU) Comment: Over the weekend, reporters and leader
writers showed an inclination away from Asgrimsson's
negativity towards Haarde's cautiously optimistic message -

let's see what the Americans will offer before we decide
they're leaving us in the lurch. The USG has promised a
detailed EUCOM defense plan for Iceland in April. Given
what we've seen of his influence this weekend, Haarde's
degree of satisfaction with that plan should largely define
media reaction.
End comment.

VAN VOORST