NORWAY'S LIBERTAD ACT REVIEW, MAY 2009

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000352

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/CCA GABRIELA ZAMBRANO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2019
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY'S LIBERTAD ACT REVIEW, MAY 2009

REF: A. SECSTATE 48487

B. OSLO 0656

Classified By: Political Counselor Kristen Bauer for reasons 1.4(b) and
(d)


1. (C) The paragraphs in this cable are keyed to questions in
reftel (A),paragraph 5. Poloff met with Kjersti Rodsmoen,
MFA Latin AMERICA section director, to discuss Cuba policy.
Norway continues to pursue a strategy of limited engagement
toward Cuba in order to advance human rights, and,
indirectly, democracy. On May 18, 2009, Switzerland hosted a
seminar on Human Rights that included Spain, Cuba and Norway.
The topic discussed was the UPR reports to the Human Rights
Council. There was also an exchange of views on issues of
torture.


2. (C) Rodsmoen said that the Norwegian Embassy in Cuba
maintains regular contact with dissidents and civil society
organizations in Cuba.


3. (C) In January, Minister Haakon Gulbrandsen visited Cuba
to establish cooperation on natural disaster preparedness, in
an initiative with also targets Bangladesh, Vietnam and
China. In February, Minister of Culture and Sports Trond
Giske visited Havana for a book fair, which featured
Norwegian author Jostein Gaarder's book Sophie's World .
During the reporting period, Norway replaced its charge
d'affaires in Cuba with a full Ambassador.


4. (C) There are only a few Norwegian business interests in
Cuba, including a limited joint venture project with Indian
and Spanish oil companies, tourism, and imports of cigars.


5. (C) There are no bilateral trade agreements between
Norway and Cuba. Cuba was recently added as a "limited
cooperation partner" to Norway's Oil for Development program;
the practical implication of this is that Norway will host
some seminars on environmental issues and regulation of
Cuba's nascent oil industry. This represents the re-starting
of a program that was cancelled in early 2000 when relations
between Cuba and Norway were frozen.


6. (C) There are no state-sponsored or sanctioned exchange
programs between Norway and Cuba.
WHITNEY