Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OSLO490
2008-09-02 14:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:
NORWAY FLEXIBLE ON INDIA NPT EXCEPTION, BUT SAYS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHNY #0490 2461441 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 021441Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY OSLO TO RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN IMMEDIATE 1267 RUEHDL/AMEMBASSY DUBLIN IMMEDIATE 0224 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE IMMEDIATE 4400 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 1634 RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA IMMEDIATE 0309 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON IMMEDIATE 0395 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7029
C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000490
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2018
TAGS: ENRG PARM KNNP
SUBJECT: NORWAY FLEXIBLE ON INDIA NPT EXCEPTION, BUT SAYS
TESTING PROVISIONS CRUCIAL
Classified By: DCM Kevin Johnson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000490
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2018
TAGS: ENRG PARM KNNP
SUBJECT: NORWAY FLEXIBLE ON INDIA NPT EXCEPTION, BUT SAYS
TESTING PROVISIONS CRUCIAL
Classified By: DCM Kevin Johnson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Subsequent to earlier demarches at senior levels,
poloff contacted Anne Kari Lunde, Senior Advisor, MFA
disarmament section, who will represent Norway at the NSG
meeting in Vienna on September 4-6. Post wished to more
precisely gauge the Norwegian government's position vis a vis
the proposed NPT exception text. Lunde's comments were as
follows:
--Norway is "aware of Indian sensitivities" and wants to be
"flexible and constructive" in finding a consensus solution.
Norway is willing to accept the draft exception text if its
concerns can be adequately addressed outside the text.
--Press reports that Norway is in a "block" of seven
countries opposing the proposal are not true. Austria,
Ireland, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland,
and Japan had engaged in "informational consultations" but it
was inaccurate to say that these countries were coordinating
their opposition and were not "ganging up" on the proposed
text.
--Issues related to nuclear testing are and will be the main
stumbling block at the NSG meeting. Several countries have
"tight instructions" on this issue, and without solving it,
there will be no consensus. The only way forward is through
somehow resolving the issue of testing.
--Lunde is confused about how the text will be acceptable to
the US Congress when it does not include the provisions of
the Hyde Act, especially the provision that testing would
trigger termination of cooperation. If the provisions of the
Hyde Act had been included in the text, there would be much
less opposition to it.
2. (C) Comment: Lunde's comments were mostly directed at the
fear that the exception text would have no chance of NSG
consensus approval unless the testing issue was adequately
dealt with somehow. End comment.
WHITNEY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2018
TAGS: ENRG PARM KNNP
SUBJECT: NORWAY FLEXIBLE ON INDIA NPT EXCEPTION, BUT SAYS
TESTING PROVISIONS CRUCIAL
Classified By: DCM Kevin Johnson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Subsequent to earlier demarches at senior levels,
poloff contacted Anne Kari Lunde, Senior Advisor, MFA
disarmament section, who will represent Norway at the NSG
meeting in Vienna on September 4-6. Post wished to more
precisely gauge the Norwegian government's position vis a vis
the proposed NPT exception text. Lunde's comments were as
follows:
--Norway is "aware of Indian sensitivities" and wants to be
"flexible and constructive" in finding a consensus solution.
Norway is willing to accept the draft exception text if its
concerns can be adequately addressed outside the text.
--Press reports that Norway is in a "block" of seven
countries opposing the proposal are not true. Austria,
Ireland, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland,
and Japan had engaged in "informational consultations" but it
was inaccurate to say that these countries were coordinating
their opposition and were not "ganging up" on the proposed
text.
--Issues related to nuclear testing are and will be the main
stumbling block at the NSG meeting. Several countries have
"tight instructions" on this issue, and without solving it,
there will be no consensus. The only way forward is through
somehow resolving the issue of testing.
--Lunde is confused about how the text will be acceptable to
the US Congress when it does not include the provisions of
the Hyde Act, especially the provision that testing would
trigger termination of cooperation. If the provisions of the
Hyde Act had been included in the text, there would be much
less opposition to it.
2. (C) Comment: Lunde's comments were mostly directed at the
fear that the exception text would have no chance of NSG
consensus approval unless the testing issue was adequately
dealt with somehow. End comment.
WHITNEY