Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06REYKJAVIK91
2006-03-17 18:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Reykjavik
Cable title:  

SUMMARY OF ICELANDIC MEDIA INTERVIEWS WITH US

Tags:  NATO MARR PREL KPAO IIP ECA IC 
pdf how-to read a cable
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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRK #0091 0761852
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 171852Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2635
INFO RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0183
UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000091 

SIPDIS

USNATO FOR MIKIEWICZ

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: NATO MARR PREL KPAO IIP ECA IC
SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF ICELANDIC MEDIA INTERVIEWS WITH US
AMBASSADOR OVER REALIGNMENT OF U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION
KEFLAVIK

REF: A) Embassy Reykjavik emails to Washington with

substance of each of the interviews 03/16/06

UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000091

SIPDIS

USNATO FOR MIKIEWICZ

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: NATO MARR PREL KPAO IIP ECA IC
SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF ICELANDIC MEDIA INTERVIEWS WITH US
AMBASSADOR OVER REALIGNMENT OF U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION
KEFLAVIK

REF: A) Embassy Reykjavik emails to Washington with

substance of each of the interviews 03/16/06


1. Summary: Ambassador held a March 16 marathon of
interviews with seven media outlets (reftel A) to explain
reasons behind the U.S. Government's decision to realign
Naval Air Station Keflavik and withdraw its four F-15
fighters and search and rescue helicopters by the end of
September 2006. The reporters asked many of the same
questions about the timing of the decision, why the news
came in a phone call, and what is envisioned for Iceland's
defense in the future. End Summary.

--------------
Criticism of the Timing of the Base Decision
--------------

2. Ambassador gave separate interviews March 16 to National
Radio, National TV, NFS TV (an all-news channel),the
newspapers Morganbladid, Frettabladid and Bladid, and the
Associated Press (from London). Nearly all the reporters
asked her about the `sudden' decision to realign the base
and withdraw the fighters and search and rescue helicopters.
She replied that this was a difficult decision was taken
after long and careful analysis. In her interview with
National TV, with an audience of 50 percent of the Icelandic
population),she said: "Ambassador Gadsden did deliver the
message of withdrawing the planes three years ago. Also,
President Bush told the Foreign Minister then that the idea
was under review and discussion."


3. She said the decision was based primarily on the evolving
global security environment and is a part of the
reposturing of U.S. military forces worldwide, which has
resulted in the withdrawal of half a million U.S. military
forces from Europe and Asia and the closing of dozens of
military bases in the United States.


4. Asked whether this was a slap in the face to Iceland,
given its generous cost-sharing offer made during the
defense talks last month, the Ambassador responded: "We
appreciated Iceland's generous proposal at the February
defense talks, but the decision on the base realignment in
the end was based on the changes in the global security
environment."

--------------
Ignoring Iceland's Views?
--------------


5. Reporters also asked the Ambassador why the United States
was `ignoring' Iceland's views in taking this decision
regarding the future of the base, and quoted some
politicians as saying that this could amount to an
abrogation of the 1951 Defense Agreement. In the National TV
interview, Ambassador said: "We listened to their proposals
very hard. The treaty is flexible to accommodate this
change. Our U.S. military presence has gone up and down
over the years. The threats facing Iceland need to be looked
at in the present context, and we will do that in future
defense talks."


6. As she told the NFS-TV reporter: "This is a new chapter,
a different chapter in our relationship. There have been
changes in our relationship over the past 60 years, which is
longer than most Icelanders have been alive. It is a new
step in our relationship but we will continue to abide by
the 1951 Defense Agreement."

--------------
Planes Outmoded Response to Today's Threats
--------------


7. When asked by National Radio about whether the planes
were necessary for Iceland's defense, Ambassador answered:
"We don't think that the stationing of the planes here is an
appropriate use of those assets. We remain committed to
Iceland's defense. Over the years, the U.S. military has
made great strides in achieving the rapid deployment of
troops. We need to look ahead to the security threats of
the twenty-first century, not those that were present during
the Cold War, and the treaty is flexible in that regard."

VAN VOORST