Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OSLO565
2008-10-21 11:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:
NORWAY LIKELY TO REMAIN UNHELPFUL ON CCW CLUSTER
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHNY #0565 2951107 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 211107Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY OSLO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7101 INFO RUEHDL/AMEMBASSY QN PRIORITY 0225 RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA PRIORITY 0310 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0396 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1531 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000565
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO PM/WRA KATHERINE BAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2018
TAGS: PARM PGOV PREL NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY LIKELY TO REMAIN UNHELPFUL ON CCW CLUSTER
MUNITIONS PROCESS
REF: STATE 108303
Classified By: Charge de affairs Kevin M. Johnson
for reasons 1.4 b and d
C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000565
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO PM/WRA KATHERINE BAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2018
TAGS: PARM PGOV PREL NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY LIKELY TO REMAIN UNHELPFUL ON CCW CLUSTER
MUNITIONS PROCESS
REF: STATE 108303
Classified By: Charge de affairs Kevin M. Johnson
for reasons 1.4 b and d
1.(C) During his October 15-16 meetings A/S Kimmitt
repeatedly raised the issue of Norway's less than helpful
approach at the CCW regarding progress toward a new CCW
protocol on cluster munitions. Kimmitt raised reftel points
with the Deputy Defense Minister, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs political advisor, the Prime Minister's national
security advisor and with a group of influential defense
researchers. All GON interlocutors remained noncommittal,
promising only to be as cooperative as possible and welcoming
U.S. points for consideration. Working level contacts,
however, remain deeply opposed to the new protocol,
indicating continued Norwegian inflexibility on this issue.
2.(C) During meetings with A/S Kimmitt GON officials did not
seem well briefed on this topic and thus were only able to
offer bland promises of cooperation, which we have heard
before. Note: Even Vegard Ellefsen, the MFA political
advisor, whose Ministry runs the GON approach to cluster
munitions, was clearly unfamiliar with this issue, leafing
through his notebook for help when A/S Kimmitt brought up the
topic. This appears to indicate that the GON policy on this
issue is being set by the MFA humanitarian section, which
remains opposed to the new protocol. Deputy Minister of
Defense Barth Eide was similarly non-committal on CCW at
dinner.
3.(C) Discussions with the MFA humanitarian section indicate
that regardless of what Ellefsen promised, the GON will
continue to respond skeptically to the proposed CCW protocol
on cluster munitions, at least in the form presented at the
September meetings of the CCW. The MFA lead on this issue
stated that the GON will only support a protocol which
strengthens international law, has a real humanitarian
impact, and which doesn't undermine the international
standard set by the Dublin treaty. In the MFA view the new
protocol is suspect on every one of these points and this
belief will lead to continued opposition to the protocol in
the CCW.
4.(C) Comment: Senior GON officials were not at all receptive
to our request that they alter their approach at CCW. While
MOD and MFA officials agreed with us in principle that CCM
and CCW can be complementary, their emphasis is clearly on
strengtening the CCM approach. Absent highest level USG and
other allied approaches, we see no liklihood the GON will
change its approach.
JOHNSON
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO PM/WRA KATHERINE BAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2018
TAGS: PARM PGOV PREL NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY LIKELY TO REMAIN UNHELPFUL ON CCW CLUSTER
MUNITIONS PROCESS
REF: STATE 108303
Classified By: Charge de affairs Kevin M. Johnson
for reasons 1.4 b and d
1.(C) During his October 15-16 meetings A/S Kimmitt
repeatedly raised the issue of Norway's less than helpful
approach at the CCW regarding progress toward a new CCW
protocol on cluster munitions. Kimmitt raised reftel points
with the Deputy Defense Minister, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs political advisor, the Prime Minister's national
security advisor and with a group of influential defense
researchers. All GON interlocutors remained noncommittal,
promising only to be as cooperative as possible and welcoming
U.S. points for consideration. Working level contacts,
however, remain deeply opposed to the new protocol,
indicating continued Norwegian inflexibility on this issue.
2.(C) During meetings with A/S Kimmitt GON officials did not
seem well briefed on this topic and thus were only able to
offer bland promises of cooperation, which we have heard
before. Note: Even Vegard Ellefsen, the MFA political
advisor, whose Ministry runs the GON approach to cluster
munitions, was clearly unfamiliar with this issue, leafing
through his notebook for help when A/S Kimmitt brought up the
topic. This appears to indicate that the GON policy on this
issue is being set by the MFA humanitarian section, which
remains opposed to the new protocol. Deputy Minister of
Defense Barth Eide was similarly non-committal on CCW at
dinner.
3.(C) Discussions with the MFA humanitarian section indicate
that regardless of what Ellefsen promised, the GON will
continue to respond skeptically to the proposed CCW protocol
on cluster munitions, at least in the form presented at the
September meetings of the CCW. The MFA lead on this issue
stated that the GON will only support a protocol which
strengthens international law, has a real humanitarian
impact, and which doesn't undermine the international
standard set by the Dublin treaty. In the MFA view the new
protocol is suspect on every one of these points and this
belief will lead to continued opposition to the protocol in
the CCW.
4.(C) Comment: Senior GON officials were not at all receptive
to our request that they alter their approach at CCW. While
MOD and MFA officials agreed with us in principle that CCM
and CCW can be complementary, their emphasis is clearly on
strengtening the CCM approach. Absent highest level USG and
other allied approaches, we see no liklihood the GON will
change its approach.
JOHNSON