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 OSLO 00000504 002 OF 002 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