Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 3371 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden Editorial United States Latin America Egypt

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 86 88 89 90 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1986/05
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08
2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/07 2001/10
2002/02 2002/03 2002/11
2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Amsterdam American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone
Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hamburg
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy La Paz Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Maputo Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey
Embassy New Delhi Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Consulate Vladivostok
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AO AF AL AE ASEC AORC AJ AM AR AEMR AMGT APER AG AS AU AGMT AFIN ABUD ATRN ACOA AEC AX AMED ADCO AODE AFFAIRS AC ASIG ABLD AA AFU ASUP
BM BIDEN BO BR BU BEXP BRUSSELS BL BK BA BILAT BTIO BH BE BX BY BG BF BB BC BBSR
CU CH CO CI COUNTERTERRORISM CA CY CVIS CMGT CASC CJAN CE COUNTER CBW CG CLINTON CDG CIA CACM CDB CS CD CV CF CN CAN CIS CM CONDOLEEZZA COE CR CTM COUNTRY CLEARANCE CPAS CWC CT CKGR CB CACS
DOD DJ DA DEAX DR DHS DOE DEA DK DISENGAGEMENT
ETRD EFIN EAID ES ECON EWWT EINVEFIN ELAB EU ETTC ENRG EUN EC EG EINV EXTERNAL ER ECIN EPET EAGR EIND ECPS EMIN ECIP EINDETRD EN EZ ET EUC EI EAIR ELTN EREL EFIS EINT ENVR ECA EINVETC ENIV EINN ENGR EUR ELECTIONS ECUN
FR FMLN FARC FJ FINR FAO FTAA FREEDOM FI FBI
GG GM GOI GZ GTMO GV GH GA GE GT GR GTIP GCC GAZA
HO HURI HILLARY HA HU HR HUMAN HYMPSK
IR IZ IN IS IMO INTERPOL IT INRB IAEA ID IV ICTY IQ ICAO IPR IRAJ INRA INRO IC IIP ITPHUM IWC IO ISRAELI IRAQI ICRC IF ILC IEFIN INTELSAT ITALY ITALIAN
JO JA JOSEPH JAMES JUS
KDEM KIRF KNNP KN KISL KJUS KTFN KWBG KPAL KPKO KSCA KCRM KR KWMN KU KV KE KCOR KPAO KG KTIP KICC KBCT KSPR KHLS KTIA KMDR KGHG KUNR KS KFRD KIPR KAWC KPWR KCIP KSUM KWAC KMIG KOLY KZ KAWK KSEC KIFR KDRG KDEMAF KFIN KGCC KPIN KBIO KHIV KNUC KPLS KIRC KACT KGIC KRAD KCOM KMCA KHDP KVPR KDEV KPRP KCFE KOCI KTDB KMRS KLIG KGIT KSTC KPAK KNEI KSEP KPOA KFLU KNUP KNNPMNUC KOMC KO KTER KHUM KRFD KBTR KDDG KWWMN KFLO KSAF KBTS KPRV KMPI KNPP
LY LG LE LH LU LI LO LOG
MTCRE MOPS MARR MO MASS MNUC MY MX MCAP MPOS MAR MD MZ MEPP MA MR ML MIL MOPPS MTCR MAPP MU MG MASC MCC MK MTRE MP MDC MEPI MRCRE MI MT MQADHAFI
NATO NL NI NZ NG NU NO NIPP NE NS NAR NPT NPG NK NSG NA NT NASA NATIONAL
OVIP OTRA OPRC OSCI OTR OVP OREP ODIP OPDC OIIP OFFICIALS OSAC OAS OEXC OFDP OSCE OPIC OECD OPCW
PREL PHUM PGOV PINR PARM PBTS PHSA PTER PK PINS PSI PA PE PO PINT PL PSOE PU POL POLITICAL PARTIES PROP PBIO PECON PM PREF PAK POGOV PINL PKFK PGOF PMIL PTERE PF PALESTINIAN PY PGGV PNR POV PAO PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY POLITICS PEPR
QA
RS RU RW RO REGION RP RIGHTS RICE ROBERT RF RFE
SP SCUL SA SNAR SOCI SMIG SY SU SR SENV STEINBERG SN SO SF SG SW SL SHUM SZ SYR ST SANC SC SAN SIPRS SI
TW TU TSPA TRGY TI TX TS TC TERRORISM TPHY TIP TBIO TH TR TT TO TFIN TD TSPL TZ TK TNGD
UK UNGA UN UP UNO UZ UNMIK US UG UNSC USEU UV UY USUN UE UNESCO UAE UNEP USTR UNHCR UNDP UNHRC USAID UNCHS
VE VZ VT VTPREL VN VM
WI WTRO WTO WA WMO WTRQ WHO WWARD
XY XW XF XA XG XT XM XR XS XL XK XH XC XZ
YM YI YE
ZP ZR ZI ZU ZB ZK ZF ZANU ZOELLICK

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 09REYKJAVIK223, PARLIAMENT PASSES A BEVY OF BILLS BEFORE THE NEW YEAR

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09REYKJAVIK223.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09REYKJAVIK223 | 2009-12-23 13:01 | 2011-01-13 05:05 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Reykjavik

`

    VZCZCXRO4097
    PP RUEHIK
    DE RUEHRK #0223/01 3571346
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    P 231346Z DEC 09
    FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4242
    INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 REYKJAVIK 000223

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE

    TREASURY FOR NORTON
    NSC FOR HOVENIER
    COMMERCE FOR DERSTINE

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: GTIP PGOV PREL ECON EFIN IC
    SUBJECT:  PARLIAMENT PASSES A BEVY OF BILLS BEFORE THE NEW YEAR

    REFS: A) Reykjavik 219 B) Reykjavik 202 C) Reykjavik 198 D)
    Reykjavik 176

    REYKJAVIK 00000223  001.2 OF 002

    ¶1. (U) Summary:  The Icelandic Parliament worked diligently in the
    days leading up to its holiday recess and passed a number of key
    pieces of legislation.  Over the weekend of December 18-20,
    parliament passed 18 bills including a new environmental tax and
    amendments to the General Penal Code that clarify Iceland's
    definition of trafficking in persons.  On December 21, parliament
    passed a heavily debated tax bill that is expected to generate an
    additional ISK 44 billion ($343.2 million) in revenue in 2010.  The
    following day, parliament passed a controversial budget bill that
    slashes government services and social spending.  The parliament
    then adjourned for a short holiday recess. It intends to reconvene
    next week and may vote on the Icesave bill at that time.  End
    Summary.

    ¶2. (U) The Icelandic Parliament worked diligently over the weekend
    of December 18-20 and passed an astounding 18 bills in the two-day
    period.  The most notable bills include a new environmental and
    resource tax which will add a charge of ISK 0.12 (0.0009 cents) per
    each kWh of energy sold and a two percent charge to the retail price
    of hot water.  The government will also assess an ISK 2.60 to ISK
    2.90 (2 cents) carbon tax on each liter of diesel oil, gasoline and
    jet fuel.  In addition, the legislature passed amendments regarding
    the contract to build an aluminum smelter in Helguvik, Southwestern
    Iceland, shortening the duration of the contract to 20 years and
    limiting tax exemptions.  Parliament also amended provisions on
    garnishment of assets, terrorism, organized crime, human trafficking
    and money laundering in the General Penal Code.  The Icelandic
    definition of trafficking in persons now mirrors the Palermo
    Protocol to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
    and thus clears the road for the protocol's ratification by
    parliament early next year.

    ¶3. (U) The tax bill passed by parliament on December 21 is expected
    to generate an additional ISK 44 billion ($343.2 million) in revenue
    in 2010.  Among the increases, the VAT will be raised by one
    percentage point to 25.5 percent, making it the highest VAT in
    Europe.  Parliament also expanded the personal income tax structure
    to three tiers:  annual income less than ISK 2.4 million ($18,700)
    will be taxed at 24.1 percent; income of ISK 2.4 - 7.8 million
    ($18,700 - $60,800) will be taxed at 27 percent; and, income over
    7.8 million ISK ($60,800) at 33 percent.  The capital gains tax will
    increase from 10 to 18 percent, and corporate taxes from 15 to 18
    percent.  Other taxes expected to affect consumers' wallets include:
    an average 14 percent tax on sugary products and restaurant
    activity; a 10 increase in automobile fees; and a 10 percent
    increase in alcohol and tobacco fees.

    ¶4. (U) Parliament passed the 2010 budget on December 22 with 33
    votes for the bill and 27 abstentions.  No member of the opposition
    voted in favor of the budgets passage.  Kristjan Juliusson, an MP in
    the Independence Party, criticized the coalition for having "given
    up" on the budget and said the government should have identified
    more cost saving measures.  Press reports, however, quote Finance
    Minister Steingrimur Sigfusson as saying that the budget results are
    very acceptable given the limited possibilities.  With the passage
    of the 2010 budget, the government projects a ISK 98.9 billion ($770
    million) deficit for 2010, a balanced budget for 2011 and a surplus
    by 2013.

    ¶5. (U) Parliament intends to reconvene next week amid rumors that it
    will vote on the Icesave bill before the New Year.  These rumors
    became more credible when the budget committee voted the Icesave
    bill out of committee on December 22, effectively clearing the way
    for a final vote.  The Icesave bill has been stalled in parliament
    for almost two months as the opposition, using filibustering
    techniques, delayed discussion on the controversial topic.
    According to media reports, the opposition would like even more
    discussion of the topic; however, it appears as though the coalition
    government does not want the issue to linger into the new year and
    intends to put an end to it now.

    ¶6. (SBU) Comment: The passage of so many bills, of which a large
    number are quite controversial, in such a quick and decisive manner
    signifies a change in the tactics of the ruling coalition.  Up until
    now, the coalition has allowed the opposition to have its say, even
    though it meant dragging out issues for months on end and delaying
    the nation's economic recovery.  It is unclear whether the coalition
    has the votes to pass the Icesave agreement next week; however, the
    coalition appears to want to resolve many of the thorniest issues
    from 2009 and start with a fresh slate in the new year.  End
    comment.

    REYKJAVIK 00000223  002.2 OF 002

    WATSON

`