NORWEGIANS DOUBTFUL ABOUT PROSPECTS FOR DOHA

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000621 SIPDIS FOR KATHERINE MONAHAN EEB/IFD/ODF AND JANCE HAIRRIMAN IO/EDA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2018 TAGS: ECON EAID UNGA NO SUBJECT: NORWEGIANS DOUBTFUL ABOUT PROSPECTS FOR DOHA MONTERREY FOLLOW UP REF: STATE 122053 Classified By: Political Counselor Kristen Bauer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The GON, while sharing our stated aims for the Doha Monterrey follow up conference, is disappointed in the US, the EU and the G77, and believes little can or will be accomplished. If little is accomplished in Doha, Norway thinks another follow up before 2015 is both inevitable and necessary. There is an expectation that US policy will change with a new administration, and the Norwegians have "heard" that the US does not currently even want an outcome document from this conference. Norway's main goal will be an agreement on stopping illicit capital flows. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Poloff met with Lars Petter Henie, MFA Assistant Director General of the UN section. Henie said that Norway would be sending a "huge" delegation of MFA personnel, parliamentarians, and civil society groups to Doha. The MFA delegation will be headed by the Minister of Environment and Development, Erik Solheim. ¶3. (C) In a frank and friendly discussion with poloff, Henie said that Norway fully shared the US's goals of reaffirming Monterrey and not watering down the commitments already made. Furthermore, Henie agreed that the FfD review process has not been effective because it has failed to emphasize the commitments of developing countries to manage their economies properly and create an enabling environment for growth. Given the financial crisis, Henie concurred that new promises of aid would not be forthcoming. FINANCIAL FLOW ISSUES PARAMOUNT -------------- ¶4. (C) Henie said Norway was hoping that there could be substantive work done on international regulation of financial flows, work actually facilitated by the financial crisis. Henie anticipated an open discussion on tax systems and illicit capital flows. Contributing to this discussion would be "Norway's main focus." Norway also hopes to upgrade the UN tax committee from diplomats acting in a nearly personal capacity to a real international forum for governments. ANOTHER FOLLOW UP CONFERENCE LIKELY; US CHANGE IN APPROACH ANTICIPATED -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Henie characterized as "difficult to resist" the idea of another review conference, especially if the substantive problems of the FfD process are not adequately addressed in this one, and given the 2015 millennium development goals. Henie said many actors expect US policy to change, and the unique US political considerations that led to our approach in Monterrey perhaps to realign under the new administration. According to Henie, the US, the EU, and the G77 had all dropped the ball on Monterrey, and it would most likely be the US who would have to rescusitate the consensus, although at this time, Henie had "heard" that the US was not even interested in an outcome document. ¶6. (U) Post POC for further Monterrey/Doha conference issues is Scott Sommers, SommersSE@state.gov, Pol/Econ officer. WHITNEY