Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12576 / 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 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16

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

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 09OSLO527, USNATO AMBASSADOR DAALDER'S MEETING WITH NORWEGIAN

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. #09OSLO527.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09OSLO527 | 2009-08-26 13:45 | 2011-05-12 13:30 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Oslo

Appears in these articles:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsnight
http://www.bbc.com/news/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/9483790.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13378567
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/news-and-blogs/campaign-blog/new-wikileaks-revelations-shed-light-on-arcti/blog/34736
http://www.thenation.com/blog/160631/wikileaks-news-and-views-blog-thursday-day-166
http://blogs.ft.com/energy-source/2011/05/12/the-battle-over-greenlands-oil/
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5ihhnQuXHwVOFswGcLlhFwiCs9gRQ?docId=6832936
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jchSEXNkbkPvlAB4mJOcmsY2WddA?docId=CNG.4232f6ae19eb54c58c9d35b7f0b4995b.861

`

    VZCZCXRO1572
    OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
    DE RUEHNY #0527/01 2381345
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    O 261345Z AUG 09
    FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
    TO RUEHNO/USNATO BRUSSELS BE IMMEDIATE
    RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7737
    INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
    RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
    RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
    RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0208
    RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 4064
    RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK IMMEDIATE
    RUEPGAA/US SURVEY DIV SHAPE BE IMMEDIATE
    RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OSLO 000527

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2019
    TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS PARM RU NO
    SUBJECT: USNATO AMBASSADOR DAALDER'S MEETING WITH NORWEGIAN
    FOREIGN MINISTER STOERE

    Classified By: CDA James Heg for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

    ¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  In discussions August 17 with visiting
    USNATO Ambassador Ivo Daalder, Norway's Minister of Foreign
    Affairs Jonas Gahr Stoere and MFA DG for North America and
    Security Policy Steffen Kongstad said the GON would welcome a
    new U.S. Missile Defense strategy that emphasized a
    multilateral approach.  They also noted the importance of
    keeping the door open for discussions with Russia, while
    developing a more unified NATO consensus through
    working-level dialogue.  On Norway's Core Initiative idea
    regarding potential NATO exercises in Norway, Stoere
    cautiously espoused a ""High North, low tension"" viewpoint,
    based on what Norway sees as a comprehensive approach to
    environmental, economic, and security challenges presented by
    the melting Arctic ice.  The Foreign Minister endorsed future
    NATO exercises in the High North if they fell under the
    rubric a new NATO Strategic Concept as detailed in the
    September 2008 Norwegian Non-paper presented at NATO. (USNATO
    Ambassador Daalder's discussions with the Deputy Defense
    Minister are being reported septel.) End Summary.

    Missile Defense - NATO context welcome
    --------------------------------------

    ¶2. (C) USNATO Ambassador Ivo Daalder, accompanied by Charge
    d'affaires Heg and pol-mil officer, met with FM Stoere, MFA
    Director General Kongstad, and Norway's NATO Ambassador Kim
    Traavik over dinner August 17 after a full day of meetings in
    Oslo that included Ambassador Daalder's speech at the
    Norwegian foreign policy institute NUPI on ""Resetting
    NATO-Russia Relations.""  FM Stoere welcomed a new,
    multilateral discussion on Missile Defense (MD), saying that
    MD can provide an increase in protection for geographical
    areas only if it actually enhances security and does not
    provoke an arms race. (Norway opposed the previous U.S.
    administration's MD policy in the past.)  He supported the
    idea of a NATO-wide approach to MD policy, since in the 2005
    - 2008 period it clearly became a ""bilateral and not a
    NATO-based issue.""  He also added that it would be important
    to analyze Russia's reaction to the MD discussions, as
    Moscow's reaction would likely signal behavior of NATO allies
    in future discussions on MD within the Alliance.  He
    estimated that there is a careful balancing act that needs to
    be achieved between informing Russia while ensuring it does
    not determine the evolution of NATO MD policy.  Stoere
    believed it would likely take beyond December 2009 to reach a
    consensus on MD, as the exact threat remains unclear.
    However, he agreed with USNATO Amb. Daalder that action needs
    to be taken soon to ensure sufficient time for systems to
    become operative before Iran could pose a real threat to NATO
    countries.

    Uneasy NATO-Russia Relations
    ----------------------------

    ¶3. (C) Stoere referred to Russia's confrontational approach
    at the NATO-Russia Council as ""ritualistic,"" with their
    negative reactions to NATO issues embedded in their ""blood
    and veins.""  The NATO decision to close down the NATO-Russia
    dialogue last August was, nevertheless, a ""bad decision"" in
    Norway's view, and one which provided a hook for other
    countries that would like to ensure that future discussions
    on Russia issues do not move forward.  Stoere said that,
    despite Russia's inherent dislike of NATO, it is important to
    keep this communication channel open, in particular if NATO
    countries can develop a consensus-based approach on dealing
    with Russia.  Stoere recommended increasing working-level
    contacts on Russia issues within NATO as a path to achieving
    additional agreement on how to move forward.  Stoere noted
    that Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov acts ""almost normal"" in
    non-NATO fora, such as the Arctic Council and Barents
    Council;  he suggested that such fora could also provide an
    opening for coping with Russia on several matters Norway sees
    as areas for NATO concern in the Arctic High North.  He noted
    that Norway, although sometimes viewed as too soft in its
    approach to Russia, is very firm on jurisdiction issues and
    the future of Svalbard.

    Strategic Concept: Way Forward on NATO Reform
    ---------------------------------------------

    OSLO 00000527  002 OF 002

    ¶4.  (C) Stoere expressed disappointment about the
    Composition of the new Experts Group announced by NATO SYG
    Anders Fogh Rasmussen.  He thought Rasmussen would give
    higher consideration to the NATO Nordic allies.  He agreed
    that there appears to be general uncertainty on how Strategic
    Concept discussions will evolve, juggled between NATO
    Director for Policy Planning Jamie Shea, the Experts Group,
    and the NAC.  The minister offered that Norway would seek to
    host a Strategic Concept dialogue in the coming months, in
    order to ensure Norwegian input into the discussion and to
    supplement the Core Areas Initiative non-paper Norway
    submitted to NATO in September 2008.  Stoere emphasized that
    as part of the Strategic Concept discussions, it is
    critically important to ensure NATO's enlargement strategy is
    re-defined to address the ""unfinished business in the
    Balkans.""  He expressed concern over the NATO SYG's apparent
    lack of interest in addressing Balkan issues.

    ¶5.  (C) FM Stoere concluded by emphasizing the importance of
    developing a relevant, easy-to-read Strategic Concept that
    would be within the public's grasp, in order to ensure
    continued public support for NATO.  He said it must reflect
    contemporary challenges and demonstrate NATO is not only
    about Russia, Iran, and terrorism.  He cited as an example
    the two and a half page document on the financial crisis
    prepared by the London School of Economics for Queen
    Elizabeth as an excellent example of how clear and concise
    the new Strategic Concept needs to be.

    NATO Exercises: ""High North, Low Tension""
    ----------------------------------------

    ¶6.  (C) On potential NATO re-flagging of bilateral and
    multilateral exercises in Norway, Stoere cautiously espoused
    a ""High North, low tension"" viewpoint, based on what Norway
    sees as a comprehensive approach to environmental, economic,
    and security challenges presented by the melting Arctic ice.
    He supported the idea of future, small-scale NATO exercises
    in the High North, if they fell under the rubric of a new
    NATO Strategic Concept as detailed in the September 2008
    Norwegian Non-paper presented at NATO.  Stoere particularly
    emphasized the point that NATO should avoid ""unnecessarily
    provoking"" the Russians.

    ¶7.  (C) Stoere opined that Norway has a unique status as both
    a NATO founding member country, on the one hand, and Russia's
    neighbor, on the other, which provides Norway with insights
    on new allies' perspectives.  Norway feels a special kinship
    with the Baltic states, he said, and shares their viewpoints
    about containing Russia's potential threat to their
    sovereignty.  Stoere described how, during his March 2009
    visit to Moscow, he thanked FM Lavrov for making it so much
    easier for him to justify the Joint Strike Fighter purchase
    to the Norwegian public, given Russia's regular military
    flights up and down Norway's coast.  In summing up Norway's
    approach to Russia, Stoere offered that Norway remains
    vigilant regarding the threat Russia poses, but added that he
    is in favor of further analysis of the several challenges
    with which Norway must grapple with due to the melting of
    Arctic ice before endorsing large NATO military exercises in
    the High North.

    ¶8. (C ) Comment:  In separate discussions with Amb. Daalder
    earlier the same day (reported septel), Deputy Defense
    Minister Barth-Eide and MOD DG for Security Policy Svein
    Efjestad shared similar concerns about potentially provoking
    Russia, but had no hesitation in recommending NATO
    re-flagging of existing training and exercises in the High
    North in the near term.  They were confident such exercises
    could be presented as part of the normal, routine training
    for NATO's defense of Article 5 guarantees throughout Europe.
    HEG

`