NORWAY HAS HIGH HOPES FOR OBAMA ADMINISTRATION

UNCLAS OSLO 000608

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENIV PHUM PINR PREL NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY HAS HIGH HOPES FOR OBAMA ADMINISTRATION


1. (U) Summary: Norway's political leadership
enthusiastically welcomed Barack Obama's election victory and
outlined some of the issues they would like the next
administration to focus on. These include climate change,
the financial crisis, fight against poverty, UN reform, and
efforts to ensure peace and security. The election was a
high interest topic with three GON Ministers in the U.S.
during the election (Energy, Culture, and Environment). The
GON does expect movement on issues such as climate but is
also aware that the new administration will also be pressing
allies on contributions to Afghanistan as well. End Summary.

PM Stresses U.S. ties and positive cooperation
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2. (U) While careful to stress that the GON would have
cooperated with both candidates, PM Stoltenberg clearly
indicated that the Obama administration is more likely to
share the same goals as the GON. Commenting on the election,
Stoltenberg said that President-elect Obama would enhance
bilateral cooperation, particularly in areas such as climate
change, disarmament, and UN reforms. Stoltenberg took pains
to say that the U.S. is Norway's most important ally, and
that bilateral links are strong and based on common values
and interests, not a particular administration. Stoltenberg
called on the U.S. to show international leadership to
achieve a climate agreement. Perhaps hoping to bolster his
upcoming election campaign, Stoltenberg was impressed by the
way Obama unified voters in all groups and by the way both
campaigns mobilized voters.

FM lays out his priorities for the new administration
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3. (U) FM Stoere also welcomed the election results, saying
that Obama's message of unity and hope is parallel to the
Norwegian Labor Party's message. Cautioning that President
Obama will face huge challenges, Stoere said that America
will not change course overnight and that Obama will
ultimately be judged by the way he handles Iraq and
Afghanistan, trade issues and environmental policy. To help
the new administration set it priorities properly, Stoere
suggested the following steps:

--The U.S. must lead in the fight for human values, a
classless society, human rights, democracy, and international
law.
--The U.S. must lead in facing the main international
challenges, namely the financial crisis, climate change,
energy supply, economic stability, technology development,
trade liberalization, fighting poverty, and uncontrolled
migration.
--The U.S. must lead through long-term diplomacy, not
short-term military solutions
--The U.S. must lead in reforming the UN and other
international organizations, particularly in how to integrate
China, India, South Africa and Brazil.


4. (U) Stoere highlighted climate change as the main
challenge, saying that even Afghanistan is short-term by
comparison. Stoere acknowledged that Obama may ask for more
troops for Afghanistan, but did not say how Norway would
respond. He also mentioned that while relations with the
Bush Administration had been "tidy" he expects relations with
the new Secretary of State to be good. Perhaps inadvertently
explaining the "tidy" comment, Stoere stated that "it has
been registered that the Bush Administration never had time
to meet with PM Stoltenberg."

High Hopes for the environment and climate
--------------

5. (U) Environment and Development Minister Erik Solheim was
one of three GON Ministers in the U.S. during the election.
Solheim had close ties to the Obama campaign. Upon his
return to Oslo he wrote a full page editorial in a leading
newspaper explaining how the U.S. will be much more active on
addressing climate change. Solheim praised Obama's linkage
of energy security with climate change and cited Obama's
pledge to reduce emissions by 80 percent by 2050, and
dramatically invest in alternative energy.
WHITNEY