NORWEGIANS SEE SERBS WITH NO GOOD SOLUTIONS ON ICJ

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000485

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2018
TAGS: PREL UN UNGA KV NO
SUBJECT: NORWEGIANS SEE SERBS WITH NO GOOD SOLUTIONS ON ICJ

REFERRAL FROM UNGA

REF: STATE 91908

Classified By: DCM Kevin Johnson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel points to Nils Kamsvaag, MFA
Deputy Director General for Western Balkan Affairs. Kamsvaag
said no decision had been made yet regarding where Norway
would stand on the advisory opinion, but demonstrated great
interest in our statement that there is ample UNGA precedent
for rejecting the request. Speaking relatively frankly,
Kamsvaag said that he agreed with our reasons for seeking to
avoid an ICJ opinion, but there was a tension between the
practical consequences (which would be bad) and Norway's
general philosophy of legitimating international institutions
whenever possible. Kamsvaag said the ultimate decision
whether to reject the request for an advisory opinion would
come after an internal recommendation from the MFA legal
department, but admitted to poloff that the legal department
would not be blind to the political considerations.


2. (C) Kamsaag mentioned that he had been visited by the
Sebian ambassador on this issue. Kamsvaag said thatin his
opinion the Serbs had not at all thought hrough this
process, since even if a clear opinin (either way) were
obtained by the ICJ, it wouldnot advance anyone's interests,
as the politicalfacts on the ground (recognition) are not
going to change.


3. (C) COMMENT: It was poloff's impression from the
conversation that the MFA legal department will ultimately
conclude that the advisory opinion request can be rejected,
and Norway will side with the US on this issue. End Comment.
WHITNEY