Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09OSLO543
2009-09-09 12:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:
NORWAY'S RESPONSE ON CFE: GON WILL ADVOCATE FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO1432 PP RUEHSL DE RUEHNY #0543 2521207 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 091207Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY OSLO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7756 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 4066 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0267 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1547
C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000543
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019
TAGS: KCFE PARM PREL NATO
SUBJECT: NORWAY'S RESPONSE ON CFE: GON WILL ADVOCATE FOR
NORWAY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE "SUPPORTING GROUP OF NATO
ALLIES"
REF: SECSTATE 92528
Classified By: Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs Cherrie Dan
iels for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000543
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019
TAGS: KCFE PARM PREL NATO
SUBJECT: NORWAY'S RESPONSE ON CFE: GON WILL ADVOCATE FOR
NORWAY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE "SUPPORTING GROUP OF NATO
ALLIES"
REF: SECSTATE 92528
Classified By: Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs Cherrie Dan
iels for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel points September 9 to
Norwegian MFA Director for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
Affairs Inga Nyhamar and Senior Advisor Lars Loken. Nyhamar
said that Norway would like to join what she referred to as
the Supporting Group of NATO Allies, the proposed small group
of interested allies, Russia, and the U.S. that would discuss
the way forward on CFE Treaty issues. She said the Norwegian
delegation to NATO would advocate for their inclusion in the
group during the upcoming September 11 preparatory meeting
for the September 17 HLTF. Both Nyhamar and Loken plan to
attend the September 17 meeting in Brussels, where they
advised a decision is expected on participation in the
Supporting Group.
2. (C) Loken advocated for Norway's inclusion in the Group
on the basis of the fact that the country shares a border
with Russia and is particularly vulnerable to Russian
Conventional Forces Europe (CFE) treaty non-compliance.
Nyhamar chimed in, noting Norway's concern, similar to
Turkey's, about Russia's CFE flank regime violations. Norway
has not been allowed to inspect and verify Russian troop
movements along their shared border since Russia suspended
CFE implementation in December 2007, she said. Loken went on
to explain that the current low number of Norwegian troops in
northern areas of the country is based on a "stable
scenario," and that the mechanics of the flank regime had
previously served as a "trip-wire," to determine when and
whether Norway should increase troop levels. Norway no
longer has that trip-wire, he said. Loken pointed out that
Norway does have another safeguard, in the form of a 1966
Norway - Russia political agreement to not mass troops in the
northern areas, but Nyhamar quickly added that maintaining a
multilateral vice bilateral agreement on the issue is a key
element of Norway's security policy.
HEG
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019
TAGS: KCFE PARM PREL NATO
SUBJECT: NORWAY'S RESPONSE ON CFE: GON WILL ADVOCATE FOR
NORWAY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE "SUPPORTING GROUP OF NATO
ALLIES"
REF: SECSTATE 92528
Classified By: Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs Cherrie Dan
iels for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel points September 9 to
Norwegian MFA Director for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
Affairs Inga Nyhamar and Senior Advisor Lars Loken. Nyhamar
said that Norway would like to join what she referred to as
the Supporting Group of NATO Allies, the proposed small group
of interested allies, Russia, and the U.S. that would discuss
the way forward on CFE Treaty issues. She said the Norwegian
delegation to NATO would advocate for their inclusion in the
group during the upcoming September 11 preparatory meeting
for the September 17 HLTF. Both Nyhamar and Loken plan to
attend the September 17 meeting in Brussels, where they
advised a decision is expected on participation in the
Supporting Group.
2. (C) Loken advocated for Norway's inclusion in the Group
on the basis of the fact that the country shares a border
with Russia and is particularly vulnerable to Russian
Conventional Forces Europe (CFE) treaty non-compliance.
Nyhamar chimed in, noting Norway's concern, similar to
Turkey's, about Russia's CFE flank regime violations. Norway
has not been allowed to inspect and verify Russian troop
movements along their shared border since Russia suspended
CFE implementation in December 2007, she said. Loken went on
to explain that the current low number of Norwegian troops in
northern areas of the country is based on a "stable
scenario," and that the mechanics of the flank regime had
previously served as a "trip-wire," to determine when and
whether Norway should increase troop levels. Norway no
longer has that trip-wire, he said. Loken pointed out that
Norway does have another safeguard, in the form of a 1966
Norway - Russia political agreement to not mass troops in the
northern areas, but Nyhamar quickly added that maintaining a
multilateral vice bilateral agreement on the issue is a key
element of Norway's security policy.
HEG