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