COOL WELCOME FOR IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN OSLO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OSLO 000504

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017
TAGS: EPET PINR PREL NO IR IZ
SUBJECT: COOL WELCOME FOR IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN OSLO

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission, Kevin M. Johnson for
reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (C) SUMMARY: Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki received a
cool welcome from his Norwegian hosts during his May 8 visit
to Oslo. Mottaki appeared to be seeking deeper political and
economic relations with Norway but Norwegian FM Jonas Gahr
Stoere stressed repeatedly that Iranian statements on Israel,
poor record on human rights and disregard for the
international community's concern over its nuclear program
prevent any deepening of relations. Mottaki also met with
Minister of Energy Odd Roger Enoksen and with Parliamentary
President Thorbjorn Jagland and received similar messages
from them, according to the MFA. Mottaki's visit sparked
sharp media debate over the ethics of having political
contact and economic ties with Iran. END SUMMARY


2. (C) Following a visit to Stockholm and preceding a trip to
Copenhagen, Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki visited Oslo on
May 8 as part of his Scandinavian charm offensive tour. In
a briefing to the diplomatic corps on May 9, Norwegian MFA
Political Director Kai Eide gave a summary of Mottaki,s
meeting with Stoere and commented that Mottaki appeared to be
on a fishing trip for anything that could be used to
demonstrate that Iran was not internationally isolated.
Despite the fact that Mottaki met with three leading GON
figures, Eide claimed that Mottaki left disappointed after
hearing what Eide characterized as the toughest statement he
has ever seen FM Stoere give to any visitor.

Iranian Overtures
--------------

3. (C) Mottaki began his MFA meeting by praising Norway,s
political independence and pointing out opportunities for
increased economic cooperation. He stated that Iran was
currently reviewing its economic relations with Europe and
would be interested in &nominating8 Norway for a larger
role as an economic partner. At a later point in the visit,
and without any expansion or discussion of the ideas, he
proposed that Iran and Norway establish a dialogue on human
rights, cooperate in the Middle East and terrorism and
collaborate on intelligence sharing. This overture was
quickly dismissed by FM Stoere who expressed surprise that
such a proposal would be brought up without any previous
discussion. Perhaps disheartened by Stoere,s strong
response Mottaki did not say anything substantive to
Stoere,s probing on Hamas, Lebanon or Palestine. Mottaki
did mention that Iran,s President would visit Afghanistan in
early summer. After his government meetings, Mottaki gave
private audiences to various Norwegian companies and an
unusual presentation to Oslo,s diplomatic corps in which he
held forth in a lengthy and vague treatise which included
criticism of the U.S. and the international community for
having double standards on the use of nuclear power.

Norwegian Response
--------------

4. (C)FM Stoere agreed that Iran and Norway have untapped
potential but stressed that several issues must be addressed
for the relationship to deepen. Stoere first mentioned that
Iran needs to understand that the international community,s
concern over Iranian nuclear plans is genuine and not driven
by U.S. pressure. Secondly, Iran,s comments on Israel and
the Holocaust went beyond any sense of decency and are a
roadblock to closer cooperation. Thirdly, respect for human
rights in Iran needs sharp improvement and fourth Iran should
seize the opportunity to prove that its nuclear program is
peaceful by accepting the offered opening by the EU proposal.
In his briefing, Eide stated that plans for the GON Deputy
FM to visit Iran have been indefinately postponed, as there
were no grounds for further discussion at this point. Eide
commented privately to the embassy that the U.S. should not
be worried about Norwegian contact with Iran as this visit
made it clear that the barriers to closer engagement are too
high to surmount at this time.

Sharm-el-Sheikh reports
--------------

5. (C) Mottaki stated that he attended the Sharm-el-Sheikh
meetings to send a strong signal of support to Iraq and show
that Iran has no interest in a destabilized Iraq. Mottaki
said that his brief conversation with Secretary Rice at the

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conference was positive and that Iran would welcome a formal
meeting if it could have real substance. Mottaki said that
Iran would welcome a meeting with the U.S. on Iraq, in Iraq,
but that Iran would have to have an invitation from the U.S.
to ensure a formal agenda and participation, and a decision
on dates and delegations.

Energy and Parliament Meetings
--------------

6. (C) Mottaki,s meeting with the Minister of Energy, Odd
Roger Enoksen, focused on Iran's wish to see increased
cooperation with Norway. Mottaki pressed for an increase in
cooperation on energy projects and offered Norway privileged
opportunities in Iran. Enoksen explained that Norwegian
companies make decisions based on commercial factors and
Iran,s poor business climate and the uncertainty over its
nuclear program make it hard for companies to invest in Iran.
Enoksen did not however make any statement signalling a
change in Norway's energy links to Iran and Norway's leading
energy companies remain active in Iran. According to MFA
contacts, Enoksen's main effort in the meeting was to
convince Mottaki that the GON does not have influence over
where Norwegian companies invest, despite their majority
ownership.


7. (C) Mottaki's meeting with the President of Parliament,
Thorbjorn Jagland, was similar in tone to the meeting with
Stoere, according to Eide. One result to come out of the
meeting was an agreement that the Norwegian Foreign Affairs
Committee would visit Iran in June.

Comment
--------------

8. (C) Comment: Mottaki,s visit to Oslo resulted in a marked
lack of enthusiasm from the GON for any increased political
relationship with Iran. FM Stoere,s strong statements
seemed to deflate any Iranian notions of cultivating a
special relationship with Norway. The loud protest
demonstrations by two different Iranian groups in front of
the MFA also probably dampened the meeting atmosphere.


9. Mottaki's visit also sparked extensive media debate over
the ethics of dealing with Iran. One commentary from an
opposition member of Parliament said that Norway should not
be in dialogue with a country which stones women. Another
constrasted the Norwegian Pension Fund's ethical investing
standards with Norway's continued economic relationship with
Iran, ironically commenting that Pension Fund's decision not
to invest in Wal-Mart hardly helps him feel better about
growing Norwegian involvement in undemocratic and corrupt
countries such as Iran. END COMMENT
WHITNEY