NORWEGIANS POSITIVE TO 1540 VOLUNTARY FUND

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000769 SIPDIS NOFORN FOR 1540 COORDINATOR TOM WUCHTE E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2019 TAGS: PREL AORC KPAO PTER UNSC EUN NO SUBJECT: NORWEGIANS POSITIVE TO 1540 VOLUNTARY FUND REF: STATE 122725 Classified By: Acting DCM Hilary Olsin-Windecker for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Poloff spoke with Erling Skjonsberg, Senior Advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Nonproliferation and Disarmament Section about our proposal for a UN Security Council Resolution 1540 voluntary fund. Skjonsberg said that although the GON did not yet have an official position on our proposal, he expected that Norway would ultimately support it, and promised to promote the idea to the Director General of the MFA next week and get us an answer soon. He speculated that the GON would contribute between $200,000 and $300,000 to such a fund, but in any case not more than the European Union. ¶2. (C/NF) Generally commenting on our proposal, he said that how the fund is perceived is of crucial importance to its acceptance by G77 countries, and it would be crucial to get both the EU and at least some G77 countries involved, as was done with the Nuclear Fuel Bank. Preventing South Africa in particular from becoming irritated with the proposal would be important. He said that Norway generally likes multi-donor trust funds like this, as they are efficient and easy to manage. He did question from an efficiency standpoint, however, our proposal of a separate board outside the committee itself. ¶3. (C/NF) Comment: Post believes that the Norwegians will support the voluntary fund, but need the EU or at least important EU countries involved for their own political cover. The GON's concern is that it not end up being an ineffective 'fig leaf' for a proposal that is ultimately perceived as entirely a U.S. creation or priority. End Comment. WHITE