Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10OSLO31
2010-01-21 12:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:
NORWAY APPROVES OF US ACTION PLAN ON DEFEATING
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHNY #0031 0211238 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 211238Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY OSLO TO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1377 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8122
C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000031
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2020
TAGS: PHUM PREL KISL KDEM PGOV OPDC NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY APPROVES OF US ACTION PLAN ON DEFEATING
DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS RESOLUTIONS
REF: A. 09 OSLO 0782
B. 09 STATE 128320
C. SOMMERS-NEVILLE (OSLO/IO) EMAILS 12/18/2009
D. 09 OSLO 647
Classified By: Acting Political and Economic Counselor Aldo J. Sirotic
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
(C) Vebjorn Heines, Human Rights Council Coordinator for the
GON, indicated by email to Poloff on January 21 that Norway
wants to work "closely" with the U.S. Mission in Geneva on
our Action Plan to Combat Racial and Religious Discrimination
and Intolerance. His message, edited for clarity, follows:
Begin text of email:
We (in the Human Rights Section of the Norwegian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs) discussed the U.S. Action Plan last week and
found it to be pro-active and constructive. Our people in
Geneva are ready to engage with the U.S. mission on how we
can assist in taking this forward. The Deputy Foreign
Minister, Gry Larsen, has been in Washington this week. We
gave her the following point on this issue to use in her
meeting with Michael Posner:
--The ongoing discussion on religion and racism in the
Council and in the GA is highly controversial. It is
followed closely by the media in Norway and has triggered an
important public debate, in particular prior to the Durban
Review Conference. This was a key reason why we engaged
heavily in that process and worked hard to find a compromise.
Still, the tension on defamation of religions continues.
Trying to find a constructive way out is of fundamental
importance. We appreciate U.S. efforts--in particular your
proposal of an action plan to combat racial and religious
discrimination and intolerance. We want to work closely with
you on this in Geneva. We are also exploring the possibility
of holding a side event in the Council in March on lessons
learned from the Council of Europe.
End text of email.
WHITE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2020
TAGS: PHUM PREL KISL KDEM PGOV OPDC NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY APPROVES OF US ACTION PLAN ON DEFEATING
DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS RESOLUTIONS
REF: A. 09 OSLO 0782
B. 09 STATE 128320
C. SOMMERS-NEVILLE (OSLO/IO) EMAILS 12/18/2009
D. 09 OSLO 647
Classified By: Acting Political and Economic Counselor Aldo J. Sirotic
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
(C) Vebjorn Heines, Human Rights Council Coordinator for the
GON, indicated by email to Poloff on January 21 that Norway
wants to work "closely" with the U.S. Mission in Geneva on
our Action Plan to Combat Racial and Religious Discrimination
and Intolerance. His message, edited for clarity, follows:
Begin text of email:
We (in the Human Rights Section of the Norwegian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs) discussed the U.S. Action Plan last week and
found it to be pro-active and constructive. Our people in
Geneva are ready to engage with the U.S. mission on how we
can assist in taking this forward. The Deputy Foreign
Minister, Gry Larsen, has been in Washington this week. We
gave her the following point on this issue to use in her
meeting with Michael Posner:
--The ongoing discussion on religion and racism in the
Council and in the GA is highly controversial. It is
followed closely by the media in Norway and has triggered an
important public debate, in particular prior to the Durban
Review Conference. This was a key reason why we engaged
heavily in that process and worked hard to find a compromise.
Still, the tension on defamation of religions continues.
Trying to find a constructive way out is of fundamental
importance. We appreciate U.S. efforts--in particular your
proposal of an action plan to combat racial and religious
discrimination and intolerance. We want to work closely with
you on this in Geneva. We are also exploring the possibility
of holding a side event in the Council in March on lessons
learned from the Council of Europe.
End text of email.
WHITE