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.
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