NORWAY APPEARS TO SHARE USG CAUTION ON SYRIA'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000418 SIPDIS FOR NEA/ELA ERICA MILLER AND STEPHEN NEWHOUSE E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL SY LE EUN RS TU NO SW SUBJECT: NORWAY APPEARS TO SHARE USG CAUTION ON SYRIA'S RHETORIC REF: STATE 78880 Classified By: Political Counselor Kristen Bauer for reasons 1.4 (b) an d (d) ¶1. (C) Political Counselor and poloff delivered reftel demarche to Jan Dybfest, acting director of the mid-east section of the MFA. The Norwegian response to reftel demarche was fundamentally consistent with USG policy toward Syria. ¶2. (C) Significantly, Dybfest said that the GON had considered welcoming Syria's decision to hold direct peace talks with Israel, but ultimately decided not to do so. Responding to the general tenor of reftel demarche, Dybfest said that Norway did not have deep or substantial contacts with the Syrian regime, that Norway tends to discuss only regional issues with the SARG, that Norway regularly criticizes Syria on human rights issues, that the assassinations of anti-Syrian politicians in Lebanon are of deep concern to Norway, and that the Syrian regime needed to "prove" its good intentions through actions. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: Norway's attitude towards Syria, at least as manifested in this meeting, was grounded in realism. While Mr. Dybfest did make comments like "it will take time to loosen their contacts with Iran" and "we are cautious but we have to be positive," the overall message emboffs received was that Norway is in a wait-and-see pattern. The MFA's decision not to publicly congratulate Syria on talking peace with Israel is significant and revealing. End comment. JOHNSON