Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12439 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

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

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 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 Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana 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 Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul 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 Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva 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 St Petersburg 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 Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
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
ASEC AORC AMGT APER AU AF AS ACBAQ AFGHANISTAN AFIN AR AE AMED AEMR AJ ADANA AG ATRN ADPM APECO AGAO AX AM AL ADCO AA AECL AADP ABUD AMEX ACAO ANET AODE ASCH AY APEC AID AORG ASEAN AFSI AFSN AINF AGR AROC AO AFFAIRS ASIG ABLD ASUP AND ARM ARF AC AQ ATFN ACOA ADM AUC AGMT AMBASSADOR AMG ACABQ ASEX AFU AER ALOW AZ APCS AVERY AN AGRICULTURE AORL ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AMCHAMS AIT ACS
BR BA BD BL BTIO BO BF BU BEXP BX BILAT BRUSSELS BK BN BM BT BY BIDEN BG BH BB BE BP BC BBSR BTIU BWC BMGT
CH CY CA CU CS CO CVIS CPAS CMGT CE COUNTER CASC CR COUNTRY CJAN COUNTERTERRORISM CBW CNARC CG CI CWC CB CD CDC CIDA CJUS CDG CBSA CEUDA CM CLMT CAC CODEL COPUOS CIC CW CBE CHR CFED CT CONS CIA CTM CVR CF CLINTON CSW CITEL CLEARANCE COE CN CACM CDB CACS CBC CARICOM CAN CONDOLEEZZA CV CITT COM CKGR CARSON CROS CAPC CTR CL CICTE CIS
DR DHS DEA DTRA DA DJ DPRK DEPT DO DOMESTIC DAO DCM DE DK DEAX DOE DS DEFENSE DISENGAGEMENT DOD
ECON EFIN ELAB ETRD EIND EC EINV EAGR ENRG ETTC EAID EPET ELTN EWWT EAIR EFIS EMIN EG EU ER EUN EPA ENVI EXTERNAL ECPS ENGR ETRC ECIN EN ES ELN ET EI EFINECONCS EINT ETRDEINVTINTCS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EZ ETRO EDU ETRN EFIM EFTA EAIG EK EUREM EURN ECONCS ECONOMICS ENVR ELECTIONS EAP ERD ENIV ECONOMY ESA EINN ECONOMIC EIAR EXBS ECA ECUN EINDETRD EUR EREL ENGY EAIDS ENERG EINVEFIN EUC EINVETC EUMEM EINVECONSENVCSJA ESENV ETRA ECONEFIN ETC ECIP ENNP ERNG ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH ECINECONCS EXIM EEPET
FR FREEDOM FTA FJ FARC FI FTAA FAC FBI FOREIGN FOI FDA FM FAO FAS FINR FOR FINANCE FMLN FO FISO
GM GV GOI GT GY GOV GL GAERC GH GG GA GR GF GCC GE GZ GTIP GANGS GERARD GLOBAL GAZA GTMO
HA HK HR HUMAN HO HU HILLARY HUMOR HI HURI HEBRON HSTC HYMPSK
IR IS IZ IAEA IO IAHRC ID IPR IC IT IRAQI IWC IN IRS IL ISLAMISTS IV ICAO INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN ICRC INTERPOL IQ IMO IBET INR ITRA INTERNAL ICJ INMARSAT ICTY IMF ILO INRA INRO ISRAELI IEA INRB ITALY IRC ITU IACI IBRD IIP IRAJ ILC INTELSAT IDA ICTR IA IZPREL IGAD IF IEFIN IDP ITF ISRAEL
JA JUS JP JO JOSEPH JM JAMES JOHNNIE JOHN
KN KCRM KOMC KNNPMNUC KIPR KPAL KWBG KSCA KFRD KNNP KUNR KTIP KWMN KSTC KFLU KOLY KISL KPAO KMDR KJUS KDEM KS KSTH KCOR KIRF KAWC KU KTFN KWAC KNPP KERG KSEO KACT KHLS KPRP KTDB KZ KFLO KBIO KGHG KTIA KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KCRCM KE KOCI KPKO KHDP KIFR KCIP KDRG KRVC KVPR KV KMPI KCFC KIDE KICC KSUM KGIT KCFE KG KBTS KSEP KGIC KPAI KHSA KTLA KTEX KFSC KPLS KHIV KCSY KSAC KTRD KID KMRS KOM KSAF KR KMOC KNAR KIRC KBCT KSPR KFIN KBTR KJUST KNEI KAWK KGCC KMCA KREL KMFO KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFTFN KICA KVRP KCOM KO KLIG KPIN KAID KRAD KSCI KESS KDEV KVIR KCRS KTBT KCGC KNSD KOMS KRIM KMIG KTER KDDG KPRV KRFD KHUM KREC KWMNCS KSEC KPOA KWWMN KX KCMR KPWR KCHG KRGY KPAK KWMM KRCM KWNM KPAONZ KNUC KDEMAF KNUP
LY LE LO LG LH LI LTTE LAB LOG LA LABOR LT LU
MARR MOPS MASS MCAP MTCRE MNUC MIL MX MEDIA MEPP MA MR MO MASSMNUC MPOS MU ML MAR MP MY MERCOSUR MG MD MW MK MAS MT MI MOPPS MASC MTS MLS MILI MTRE MV MEPN MAPP MTCR MEPI MCC MZ MDC MEETINGS MQADHAFI MAPS MARAD MRCRE MILITARY MC MIK MUCN
NATO NL NZ NPT NI NSF NE NU NG NAFTA NS NDP NIPP NP NPA NO NK NRR NSC NEW NH NR NA NZUS NATIONAL NSG NC NSFO NSSP NASA NT NAR NGO NW NV NPG NORAD NATOPREL
OTRA OAS OPRC OIIP OVIP OREP OPDC OMIG OEXC OPIC OSCE OFFICIALS ODIP OFDP OECD OBSP OPCW OTR OSAC OSCI ON OIC OFDA OCII OES OPAD OIE OVP OHUM OCS
PREL PGOV PK PHUM PINS PARM PA PTER PINR PREF PHSA PBTS PBIO PO POL PE PARMS PM PGIV PROG PL PAK POLITICS PORG PTBS PNAT PUNE POLICY PDOV PCI PROP PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PP PS PAO PG PY PTERE PGOF PALESTINIAN PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PSEPC PREFA PGOVE PINF PHUMPGOV PNG PMIL PGOC PFOR PF POLINT PRAM PCUL PLN PAS PHUH POGOV PHUMPREL PRL PROV PHUMBA PEL PECON PSA PGGV PNR POV PHALANAGE PARTY PGOVLO PHUS PDEM PREO PAHO PSI PINL PU PRGOV PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS
QA
RS RU REACTION REPORT REGION RW RP RIGHTS RO RCMP RF RM RFE RSP ROBERT RICE RIGHTSPOLMIL ROOD RELATIONS RUPREL RSO
SU SNAR SO SOCI SW SENV SMIG SCUL SP SZ SK SENVKGHG SR SY SNARN SA SI SN SPCVIS SL SYRIA SF SC SWE SARS SHUM STEINBERG SG SIPRS ST SEVN SIPDIS SSA SPCE SHI SNARIZ SH SOFA SAN SNARCS SEN SYR SAARC SANC SCRS
TRGY TBIO TU TF TERRORISM TI TSPL TPHY TH TIP TW TSPA TC TO TX TZ TNGD TT TL TV TS TRSY TINT TN TURKEY TBID TD TFIN TP TAGS TK TR THPY
UNGA UN UK US UNC UNSC USUN USTR UG UP UY USEU UNESCO USPS UNMIK UZ UNHRC UNO UNAUS UNHCR UNCHR USAID UNVIE UAE USOAS UNFICYP UV UNDESCO UNEP UNDC UNCHC UNDP UNODC UNCND UNCHS UNIDROIT UNCSD UNICEF USNC UNPUOS UE
VT VE VTPREL VM VAT VZ VI VN VTIZ VC VTEG
WS WTRO WTO WTRQ WI WZ WHO WFP WBG WHA WWARD WB WA WMO WITH WMD WIPO WHTI WEU
XA XF XM XL XW XV XB XU XR XY XS XG XT XH XE XK XX XD XI XTAG XQ XZ XC
YE YM YI YMCS
ZI ZP ZB ZO ZU ZEALAND ZK ZR ZF ZOELLICK ZN ZANU ZL ZA ZJ

### 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 Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 08REYKJAVIK105, ICELAND RESUMES COMMERCIAL WHALING AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE

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. #08REYKJAVIK105.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08REYKJAVIK105 | 2008-06-10 11:11 | 2011-01-13 05:05 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Reykjavik

`

    VZCZCXRO5370
    RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
    RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
    DE RUEHRK #0105/01 1621148
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 101148Z JUN 08
    FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3675
    INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
    RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
    RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0030

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 REYKJAVIK 000105

    STATE FOR OES/OA JOHN FIELD AND EUR/NB
    USDOC FOR NMFS CHERI MCCARTY
    TOKYO FOR BART COBBS
    COPENHAGEN FOR ESTH HUB

    SENSITIVE

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: SENV EFIS KSCA PREL IWC ETRD IC
    SUBJECT: ICELAND RESUMES COMMERCIAL WHALING AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE
    IN FIN WHALE MEAT

    REFS: A) Reykjavik 57 B) 06 Reykjavik 388

    ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On May 19, the Icelandic Minister of Fisheries
    Einar Gudfinsson (Independence Party) quietly issued a quota for
    commercially hunting 40 minke whales for the domestic market.  The
    Icelandic Foreign Minister, along with the other ministers from the
    coalition Social Democratic party, publicly responded that they did
    not agree with the quota.  Further, although they acknowledged the
    decision was within Gudfinsson's power, the Social Democratic
    ministers felt the quota sacrificed greater interests for lesser
    ones.  On June 2, the Icelandic media reported that 60 tons of fin
    whale meat (from the seven whales caught in fall 2006) had been sent
    to Japan.  The local environmental NGO believes the export was not a
    commercial deal but a political ploy to pressure the government for
    more fin whale quota.   Gudfinsson said opponents of whaling would
    have to admit whaling is justified now that a market has been
    established and he did not preclude the issuance of more quotas.
    End Summary.

    ¶2.  (U) On May 19, the Head of the International Office at the
    Ministry of Fisheries and Iceland's Commissioner to the
    International Whale Commission (IWC) Stefan Asmundsson telephoned
    Econoff to say that Minister of Fisheries Einar Gudfinsson would
    quietly issue a quota for 40 minke whales to satisfy the domestic
    market for whale meat.  Asmundsson said that this quota was based on
    the Marine Research Institute's 2007 recommendation that 400 minke
    whales could be harvested without impact on the stock.  By the end
    of the day, Foreign Minister Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, who is
    not in Gudfinsson's Independence Party, but rather the coalition
    Social Democratic Alliance (SDA) party, posted a response on the SDA
    website.  It said that the six SDA ministers (out of the twelve in
    the Cabinet) opposed Gudfinsson's decision and, in what appeared to
    be a veiled reference to Iceland's United Nations Security Council
    bid, argued that it sacrificed long term gains for short ones.

    ¶3.  (U) Two weeks later, on June 2, the Icelandic media reported
    that whaling firm Hvalur hf. had exported 60 tons of Icelandic fin
    whale meat to Japan.  This meat came from the seven fins hunted in
    fall 2006 when commercial whaling was restarted and was presumably
    kept in cold storage since.  Gudfinnsson, in comments to the media,
    noted that whaling opponents had always argued that there was no
    reason to hunt whales because the products would not sell; now those
    parties would have to admit whaling is justified as a market has
    been established.  He added that he did not preclude the issuance of
    more quotas.  In response, Gisladottir said it was pointless to say
    anything specific about the sale and referenced her earlier
    statement regarding the minke quota.

    ¶4.  (SBU) The IWC Commissioner Asmundsson told Econoff on June 6
    that this was a legal trade and purely a private commercial deal
    with which the Ministry had no involvement.  He said that even if
    the Ministry knew of the trade beforehand "it would not have been
    proper to reveal that the export permits had been applied for."
    Asmundsson said that when Iceland decided to resume commercial
    whaling in October 2006, the ability to trade internationally in
    whale products was resumed at the same time.  Iceland has a
    reservation against fin whales being listed on CITES Appendix 1, and
    post attempted to get copies of the CITES certificates for export.
    After several offices denied that they had responsibility for such a
    certificate, we located copies of the certificates at the
    Directorate of Fisheries within the Ministry of Fisheries.  These
    certificates were filed in mid-May.

    ¶5.  (SBU) On June 7, the owner of Hvalur hf., and only fin whale
    hunter in Iceland, Kristjan Loftsson told the Icelandic State media
    that he had not received the necessary permits from Japanese
    authorities to sell the meat, but that the meat was already in
    Japan.  Loftsson said nothing was unusual and that customs and
    importation procedures take time.  The local environmental NGO
    Iceland Nature Conservation Association (INCA) told Econoff that the
    company that received the shipment in Japan was "resurrected" by the
    wealthy Loftsson just for this deal.  INCA believes this transaction
    was not a commercial deal but rather a political ploy by Loftsson to
    put pressure on the Icelandic government to issue Loftsson a further
    quota.

    ¶6.  (U) As of June 9, five of the 40 minke whales covered by the new
    quota have been killed and fresh whale meat is available in
    Icelandic grocery stores.  No new whaling quotas have been issued
    beyond the minke quota.  According to Asmundsson, the 2006 quota for
    nine fin whales, of which seven were caught, has expired.
    Asmundsson would not tell Econoff whether there was a petition for a
    new quota for fin whales.

    REYKJAVIK 00000105  002 OF 002

    ¶7.  (SBU) Comment: The opposition to the minke quota by half of the
    Cabinet was a different response from when commercial whaling was
    restarted in fall 2006.  The Social Democratic Alliance, then in
    opposition, publicly defended Iceland's right to whale and only
    expressed reservations about possible reactions from Iceland's
    friends.  Today, SDA's criticism of a fellow Cabinet minister
    indicates that there is concern with international reaction to
    whaling and its effect on Iceland's UN Security Council bid. Whether
    new commercial quotas will be issued for fin whales or more minkes
    will undoubtedly be determined by the level of international
    reaction to recent events and whether an export market has been
    truly established in Japan.

    VAN VOORST

`