NORWAY'S FM REQUESTS HELP TO FACILIATE BAGHDAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000383 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PASS TO DS/IP/EUR AND DS/IP/NEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2019 TAGS: ASEC PREL IZ NO SUBJECT: NORWAY'S FM REQUESTS HELP TO FACILIATE BAGHDAD VISIT REF: A. A:OSLO 171 ¶B. B: CARLSON-ORR JUNE 8 EMAIL Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Kristen F. Bauer for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) SUMMARY After four years of only minimal contact with the Iraqi government, Norway's Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere is planning a day-long visit to Baghdad on June 17. This visit comes in response to a direct request from Secretary Clinton to FM Stoere during their bilateral meeting in April. The Norwegians plan to use the visit to set the stage for opening a diplomatic presence in Baghdad and substantially increasing their activities in Iraq. For this to happen however the FM will need assistance from the USG to facilitate his visit and to provide for his security. Without U.S. assistance, the visit will likely be postponed and perhaps even cancelled. Therefore, Post strongly hopes that the USG will be able to assist, despite the late notice of the trip. Ref b. END SUMMARY Specific Request Details -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Security Services have specifically requested U.S. support for the FM's visit. FM Stoere is planning a June 17 day trip to Baghdad and will meet with the Iraqi FM and other Iraqi Ministers. The MFA has inquired about the possibility of providing a helicopter from the airport to the green zone and back, protection for the FM by the U.S. while in Iraq, and threat assessment assistance. Their concern is heightened by the fact the Norwegian FM was a near-miss in an attack in Kabul in January 2008 (Serena Hotel attack). That experience likely prompted them to make this request, since they believe they missed key threat assessments by not asking for help when their FM went to Kabul. They have now have learned that security must be a key part of FM travel, although they still haven't learned to ask for help in a very timely fashion. Why this is Important: Some Background -------------- ¶3. (C) PM Stoltenberg withdrew Norway's small contributions to the multi-national effort in Iraq after his election in ¶2005. His government (and the public) have remained opposed to any increase in Norwegian activity in Iraq. This attitude softened over time, in part due to a strong effort by Embassy Oslo. During a March 11 internal meeting, the GON decided to shift policy on Iraq to something the MFA desk officer characterized as "even further normalizing relations." This effort includes the FM's planned visit to Baghdad, plans to establish a diplomatic presence in Baghdad (renting space in the Swedish embassy),possible establishment of a diplomatic presence in Northern Iraq, and the expansion of the bilateral oil cooperation training program. The catalyst for all these positive developments will be the FM's visit. (See ref B for more details) ¶4. (C) We understand the immense demands on USG resources in Iraq as well as the very short notice of this request. Providing assistance to the Norwegians on this visit, however, will have an important and outsized impact and we ask for all consideration to be given to the Norwegians request. WHITNEY