SECRETARY CLINTON'S MEETING WITH NORWEGIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 035243 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM NATO EAID PARM KNNP SENV KWBG, SO, KN, AF, RS, IR, IZ, CE, IS, NO SUBJECT: SECRETARY CLINTON'S MEETING WITH NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER JONAS GAHR STOERE, APRIL 6, 2009, 3:30 P.M., WASHINGTON, D.C. ¶1. (U) Classified by Acting EUR Assistant Secretary Marcie Ries for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶2. (U) April 6, 2009, 3:30 - 4:00, Washington, D.C. ¶3. (U) Participants: U.S. -------------- The Secretary EUR Deputy Assistant Secretary Judy Garber OES Deputy Assistant Secretary Dave Balton Acting Spokesman Robert Wood NSC Director Jeff Hovenier EUR/NB Norway /Sweden Desk Officer H. Martin McDowell (Notetaker) Norway -------------- Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere Ambassador Wegger C. Strommen MFA Political Director Vegard Ellefsen MFA Americas Dept. Head Morten Aasland MFA Global Initiatives Adviser Inga Nyhamar MFA Nordic Resources Adviser Gyrid Celius ¶4. (C) Summary: In a wide-ranging discussion with Norwegian Foreign Minster Stoere, the Secretary recognized Norway's contributions in Afghanistan, requesting it consider ways to support the new strategy and ensure international donor coordination. The Secretary welcomed cooperation in the Arctic, including with Russia. Stoere said Norway would: support U.S. disarmament initiatives; do more in Iraq; continue to coordinate closely with the U.S. on Palestinian donor assistance; and maintain international unity on Iran sanctions. The Secretary and Stoere agreed to continue close cooperation to aid civilians and stop the fighting in Sri Lanka. The Secretary welcomed Norway's ideas on development cooperation and furthering the Human Rights issues of maternal and children's health; Stoere supported the U.S. decision to run for a UN Human Rights Council (HRC) seat to help reform it from within. Stoere pledged to help fund North Korean energy assistance once talks resume, and the Secretary requested that Norway stay in contact on Somalia. End Summary. -------------- Afghanistan -------------- ¶5. (C) The Secretary thanked Norway for contributions in Afghanistan and asked the Norwegian Government (GoN) to consider further civilian and military assistance requests (i.e., elections security, military and police trainers) to support the new strategy. Stoere pledged that Norway would "stay the course" in Afghanistan, and consider additional requests. The Secretary noted the importance of supporting UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Special Representative Kai Eide, saying that donors needed to genuinely heed Eide's call for international assistance coordination. The Secretary said that Norway's method of allocating only 20 percent of assistance to the region in which its troops are based while channeling the rest through UNAMA and the Afghans could be a model for others. -------------- Arctic, Russia, Disarmament -------------- ¶6. (C) Both the Secretary and Stoere welcomed the results of the April 6 joint session of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and the Arctic Council, noting the useful synergy in bringing together countries with interests in Antarctica and the Arctic. Stoere noted Administration support for ratification of the Convention on the Law of the Sea (CLOS),adding that Norway may STATE 00035243 002 OF 003 SUBJECT: SECRETARY CLINTON'S MEETING WITH NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER JONAS GAHR STOERE, APRIL 6, 2009, 3: become the first nation to have Extended Continental Shelf claims recognized under that agreement. While the High North could be a stage for conflict, he said it does not have to be. Sufficient legal structures (e.g., CLOS) exist, Stoere argued, but coordinated policies and actions to "fill in the gaps" were lacking. The Secretary welcomed Norway's ideas on cooperative projects in the Arctic (i.e., reducing harmful emissions of methane and "black carbon"),saying that Arctic nations should build consensus on issues of common interest. Stoere urged USG support of the April 28-29 "Melting Ice" conference/Arctic Council Ministerial in Tromso; the Secretary supported high-level U.S. attendance. ¶7. (C) The Secretary and Stoere noted that the Arctic offered opportunities to constructively engage Russia. Stoere noted the Russians were "almost normal" in the Arctic Council and the Ilulissat group of five Arctic coastal nations. The Secretary said the United States wanted to build on the current positive tone following the meeting between Presidents Obama and Medvedev. ¶8. (C) Stoere welcomed recent U.S. statements on disarmament, adding that Norway could support U.S. initiatives with its experience, research and connections to non-aligned groups. The Secretary said the President had set a clear course on disarmament and that helpful Norwegian ideas could play an important role. -------------- Iraq, Gaza, Iran -------------- ¶9. (C) The Secretary requested that Norway consider practical ways to help Iraq, suggesting capacity building with the Iraqi Oil Ministry, supporting Iraqi participation in the Extractive industries Transparency Initiative (EITI),and working with the GoI on a national energy strategy as possibilities; a high-level visit, she added, would reinforce that message. The Secretary noted that as a Senator, she had supported the creation of a transparent fund for Iraq's energy proceeds, as a measure to reduce corruption, but had found little support in the last Administration. Assuring the Secretary that Norway was "ready to do more" in Iraq, Stoere said he would travel there to cement a refugee return agreement; Norway, he added, needs real improvement in Iraq to facilitate that return. He also pledged to support Iraq's participation in the EITI, which has its secretariat in Oslo. ¶10. (C) Turning to Israeli/Palestinian issues, the Secretary urged Norway to continue to work closely with Special Envoy Mitchell (including in its role as Chair of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) for coordinating donor assistance to the Palestinians) to address the Palestinian Authority's major challenges - severe budget deficits, political divisions, a stand-off with Hamas, and uncertain relations with the new Israeli Government. While the AHLC would not venture into final status issues, Stoere added, it provided a rare venue for Israelis and Palestinians to talk. The Secretary suggested that the next AHLC meeting be held at the technical level to more effectively address assistance issues, and noted that Mitchell would soon travel to the region again. (Note: Stoere met with SE Mitchell following the meeting with the Secretary. End note.) ¶11. (C) On Iran, the Secretary noted that while the Administration was exploring "tough, direct diplomacy," Norway should help maintain international unity and support for sanctions. Russia, she added, was increasingly convinced by U.S. arguments that Iran remained determined to develop a nuclear weapons capability. -------------- Sri Lanka -------------- ¶12. (C) The Secretary welcomed GoN efforts to end the fighting and aid trapped civilians; she welcomed Norway's ideas on how to reduce civilian casualties. She urged Norway to consider joining a possible "Group of Friends" to focus international efforts and give weight to the new UN Special Envoy; Stoere agreed as the conflict could STATE 00035243 003 OF 003 -------------- Health/Development, Human Rights -------------- ¶13. (C) Stoere described Norwegian emphasis on development issues, especially maternal and children's health under Millennium Challenge Goals Four and Five. Norway's success in reducing infant mortality and improving maternal health care in India and Tanzania, he added, had attracted private sector interest, including that of the Gates Foundation. Stoere proposed partnering with the United States in similar projects or perhaps under a broader development umbrella for "more secure state building." The Secretary welcomed Norwegian ideas on development cooperation; maternal and children's health, she added, are also human rights issues. ¶14. (C) On Human Rights, Stoere welcomed the decision by the United States (together, he noted, with Norway and Belgium) to run for an HRC seat. Stoere argued it was better for like-minded nations to confront challenges to freedom of speech and religious defamation via direct engagement while seeking to reform the HRC "from within." The Secretary noted that HRC engagement could lead to defining human rights in "real world" ways. -------------- North Korea -------------- ¶15. (C) The Secretary said that the United States was working with the UNSC for a strong response to North Korea's April 5th missile launch. She asked Norway to consider a USD 10 million pledge for North Korean energy assistance once a return to the Six Party talks was possible; Stoere said that Norway would be ready to help. -------------- Africa -------------- ¶16. (C) Finally, Stoere noted the range of Norwegian interests in Africa, citing close coordination with both the UNSYG Special Representative for Somalia and USUN Ambassador Susan Rice. The Secretary, noting U.S. support for the new Somali coalition government as part of the Contact group, said that Norway and the United States should stay in close contact. CLINTON