Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09OSLO65
2009-01-08 15:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:
NORWAY REFUSES TO OPPOSE IRANIAN PRESIDENCY OF
how-toVZCZCXYZ0005 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHNY #0065 0081519 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 081519Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY OSLO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7282 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0299
C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000065
SIPDIS
FOR IO/EDA CHARLES CHANG AND NEA/IR VICTORIA TAYLOR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019
TAGS: PREF IR UN EAID NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY REFUSES TO OPPOSE IRANIAN PRESIDENCY OF
UNDP EXECUTIVE BOARD
REF: STATE 1500
Classified By: Political Counselor Kristen Bauer for reasons 1.4(b) and
(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000065
SIPDIS
FOR IO/EDA CHARLES CHANG AND NEA/IR VICTORIA TAYLOR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019
TAGS: PREF IR UN EAID NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY REFUSES TO OPPOSE IRANIAN PRESIDENCY OF
UNDP EXECUTIVE BOARD
REF: STATE 1500
Classified By: Political Counselor Kristen Bauer for reasons 1.4(b) and
(d)
1. (C) Poloff spoke re reftel with Lars Henie, Deputy Section
Head of the UN section of the MFA. Henie had been
"expecting" poloff's call on this, and had been "coordinating
and clarifying" a response to our expected request for
cooperation. Henie had the following to say:
--The GON "does not oppose" an Iranian presidency.
--If a vote is called, Norway will abstain.
--Norway views the presidency of the executive board of the
UNDP as "a ceremonial, and not a political position."
--Norway does not believe that an Iranian presidency would
politicize the UNDP, and believes Iranian diplomats have
acted professionally when put in other ceremonial UN posts
similar to this one.
--Norway "will do everything it can" to avoid a vote; Norway
believes a consensus decision is much preferable to a vote.
--Norway believes a vote will "politicize" the presidency,
and would be "damaging."
2. (C) Henie knew that the GON position would be at odds with
the U.S. and hence had taken the effort to be fully prepared
for our call. We stressed that we believe that an Iran
presidency would be politically polarizing even without a
vote, and it would reward a pariah state that violates
international norms.
WHITNEY
SIPDIS
FOR IO/EDA CHARLES CHANG AND NEA/IR VICTORIA TAYLOR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019
TAGS: PREF IR UN EAID NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY REFUSES TO OPPOSE IRANIAN PRESIDENCY OF
UNDP EXECUTIVE BOARD
REF: STATE 1500
Classified By: Political Counselor Kristen Bauer for reasons 1.4(b) and
(d)
1. (C) Poloff spoke re reftel with Lars Henie, Deputy Section
Head of the UN section of the MFA. Henie had been
"expecting" poloff's call on this, and had been "coordinating
and clarifying" a response to our expected request for
cooperation. Henie had the following to say:
--The GON "does not oppose" an Iranian presidency.
--If a vote is called, Norway will abstain.
--Norway views the presidency of the executive board of the
UNDP as "a ceremonial, and not a political position."
--Norway does not believe that an Iranian presidency would
politicize the UNDP, and believes Iranian diplomats have
acted professionally when put in other ceremonial UN posts
similar to this one.
--Norway "will do everything it can" to avoid a vote; Norway
believes a consensus decision is much preferable to a vote.
--Norway believes a vote will "politicize" the presidency,
and would be "damaging."
2. (C) Henie knew that the GON position would be at odds with
the U.S. and hence had taken the effort to be fully prepared
for our call. We stressed that we believe that an Iran
presidency would be politically polarizing even without a
vote, and it would reward a pariah state that violates
international norms.
WHITNEY