NORWAY STILL CONSIDERING PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000388 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2018 TAGS: EUN PHUM PERL KDEM SUBJECT: NORWAY STILL CONSIDERING PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE NYC EVENT REF: STATE 70829 Classified By: Political Counselor Kristen Bauer for reasons 1.4 (b) an d (d) ¶1. (C) In response to the reftel demarche and subsequent discussions with Anne Merchant, Senior Advisor in the MFA Section for Human Rights and Democracy, the GON refused to confirm support for the NYC prisoners of conscience public affairs event. Merchant stated that she could not commit until she fully understood the reasons for the failure of the EU to come to consensus regarding this event. She said she was researching the issue, and will respond when she has an answer in the next few days. WHITNEY