NORWAY AGREES PIRACY COURT A BAD IDEA

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000389

SIPDIS

FOR PM/PPA DAVID FORAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2019
TAGS: EWWT MARR PGOV PHSA PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: NORWAY AGREES PIRACY COURT A BAD IDEA

REF: STATE 58579

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


1. (C) Poloff discussed reftel demarche with Deputy Director
Anita Nergard of the MFA Section for Global Security on June

10. Nergard said that Norway agreed with the US that the
idea of an international tribunal to prosecute piracy
suspects was a bad idea for the reasons we listed in reftel
non-paper. Nergard especially noted the long-life, wind up
and wind down costs, and possible reduction in magnitude of
the problem off Somalia, all of which suggested an
international tribunal was not the way to go. She said she
had gathered this from discussions she has already had with
the legal department on this issue, and promised to forward
our non-paper to them. Poloff encouraged Norway to be
"outspoken in its position" in the ongoing discussions, as
indicated in reftel paragraph 3.
WHITNEY