NORWAY AGREES WITH US ANTARCTIC TREATY MEETING

UNCLAS OSLO 000390 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR OES/OA EBLOOM AND LHUGHES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC KCSA KTIA SENV TPHY NO SUBJECT: NORWAY AGREES WITH US ANTARCTIC TREATY MEETING GOALS REF: STATE 42866 (SBU) On April 18 we delivered reftel points to Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Polar Advisor Karsten Klepsvik. Klepsvik said that Norway agrees tourism is the central topic for discussion at the upcoming Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and will support our positions regarding controls on tourist vessels, tourist landings, a CEP five-year work plan, and establishing the Admundsen-Scott station. Norway's priorities for the meeting are coordinating collection of visiting ship information preferably through an international body such as the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) rather than the private sector International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO). In addition to tourism issues mentioned above, Norway is also interested in discussing the status of permanent tourism facilities and improved radio communication coverage between land stations. JOHNSON