NORWAY RESPONDS TO AMCIT DEMARCHE; ASSESSES IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000794 SIPDIS FOR NEA/IR, CA, P, AND NSC E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2019 TAGS: CASC IR PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PROP PTER NO SUBJECT: NORWAY RESPONDS TO AMCIT DEMARCHE; ASSESSES IRAN SITUATION REF: A. STATE 129480 ¶B. OSLO 569 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James T. Heg for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On December 29, Deputy Chief of Mission James T. Heg, accompanied by Poleconoff, met with Aud-Marit Wiig, Director General of Geographic Bureaus and International Development, as well as Torunn Viste, Assistant Director General in charge of Mid-East Affairs, both at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),to discuss reftel demarche. Wiig said that she would ask the Norwegian Ambassador in Tehran (currently in Norway) to take up our concerns over the six Americans unjustly held in Iran, and will also "consider" raising the issue with the Iranian Charge d'Affaires here in Oslo. Wiig said that Norway was aware of the cases of the six Americans, as the Embassy has raised the issue in prior discussions with the MFA (see ref b). THE NORWEGIAN ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION IN IRAN -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Wiig said that Norway is a "keen observer" of the human rights situation in Iran, and often brings up issues with the Iranian government, specifically the execution of minors. She stated that the GON often has trouble getting access to senior Iranian officials when they know that the purpose of the discussion will be to bring up human rights issues. She noted (and emboffs confirm) that the issue of the treatment of Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi--harassment of her family and most recently, arrest of her sister--has especially troubled the GON and has been widely covered in Norwegian media, and has been brought up directly with the Iranians by the GON. ¶3. (C) When asked what the GON thought of the most recent unrest in Iran, Viste said initially that she had been "surprised" that people were willing to take such high personal risks by protesting after the brutal repression that had occurred in the aftermath of the elections. Viste said that people would run even higher risks in future protests, as the Ashura holiday had partially restrained the GOI. She said that the fact that the authorities were preventing a funeral of presidential candidate Moussavi's nephew, after he was killed accidentally (according to Viste) in a protest, could itself become another rallying point of the opposition--such is the tense situation on the ground according to the Norwegian Embassy in Tehran. Wiig provided us with a statement, issued December 28, by Foreign Minister Stoere. Stoere's comments were as follows: "Norway condemns the use of violence against the demonstrators, and is concerned about the reported arrests of members of the opposition, human rights activists and journalists. Iran has undertaken to respect freedom of assembly and expression. It is also most regrettable that foreign journalists are not allowed to cover the demonstrations. We urge the Iranian authorities to halt the use of violence and political arrests immediately. All those who are being unlawfully detained must be released." End Statement by FM Stoere. WHITE