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