NORWEGIAN AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ ON SECURITY,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002146

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV NO IZ
SUBJECT: NORWEGIAN AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ ON SECURITY,
HYDROCARBONS LEGISLATION, AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) In a July 8 courtesy call with Ambassador Crocker,
Norwegian Ambassador Mette Ravn (resident in Amman) remarked
on the clear difference in the improved security atmosphere
she felt on this trip to Baghdad for the IRFFI Donors,
Committee meeting as compared to her first visit last
December to present her credentials. Travel through the city
and through checkpoints seemed easier. Ambassador Crocker
replied that the current level of violence is lower now than
it has been since January 2004, even though the number of
troops here is 25 percent less than at the height of the
surge. Even so, Ambassador Ravn said that the Norwegians
have no immediate plans to return to Baghdad to establish a
permanent presence. Instead, she plans to travel on an ad
hoc basis from time to time when the situation warrants and
to places where it will make a difference. In particular,
she imagined trips to the north.


2. (C) Ambassador Ravn asked about progress on the
hydrocarbons legislation and its prospects for movement
through the Council of Representatives. She noted that
Norwegian companies are interested in capacity building and
training for the Ministry of Oil. The Norwegian oil company
DNO currently has an MOU for production sharing in the
Kurdish region and there is a Norwegian NGO working in
Sulaymaniyah on demining and human rights projects. Statoil
Hydro is one of the 41 international companies bidding for
the development of six oil fields and two natural gas fields.
In reply, Ambassador Crocker urged Norwegian engagement with
decision makers to push for movement on the law and to
underline the importance of achieving consensus. He noted
that the law is not likely anytime soon given that there are
considerable difficulties still to be overcome as well as
issues competing for consideration like elections, the budget
supplemental, and the execution of budget spending priorities.


3. (C) In an earlier courtesy call on VP Tareq Hashimi, in
addition to discussing the themes of Iraqi-led reconciliation
and the upcoming elections, Ambassador Ravn reported that
Hashimi pressed her for foreign business investment in Iraq.
However, she noted the difficulties that small and medium
sized enterprises have operating in the Middle East, and the
problems with infrastructure and support from the legal
system. Ambassador Crocker replied that there are many
American businesses with contracts in Iraq and an active
American Chamber of Commerce. Moreover, he pointed out that
as DPM Barham Salih has said, Iraq is now trying to link
itself to the world economic order in a way that it has not
attempted to do for decades. Iraq is now engaging, and
contact with European partners both in Europe and in meetings
here is important.
CROCKER