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### Viewing cable 08OSLO488, NORWAY WELCOMES AMBASSADOR VOLKER'S VISIT WITH A

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08OSLO488 | 2008-09-02 13:06 | 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

`

    VZCZCXYZ0000
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHNY #0488/01 2461306
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    R 021306Z SEP 08
    FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7024
    INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE
    RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 4014
    RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1524
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000488

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2018
    TAGS: MARR MCAP NATO PGOV PREL NO
    SUBJECT: NORWAY WELCOMES AMBASSADOR VOLKER'S VISIT WITH A
    PLEDGE TO FOCUS ON COOPERATION

    Classified By: Deputy Chief of Misson Kevin M. Johnson
    for reasons 1.4 b and d

    ¶1. (C) Ambassador Volker's August 21-24th visit to Noway
    featured extensive private and public discusions on Georgia
    and on Russia including a well received address at Norway's
    leading foreign policy institute and extensive media
    coverage.  In private, GON officials, including FM Stoere and
    Deputy Defense Minister Barth Eide, expressed a desire for
    closer cooperation with the U.S. in NATO and broad agreement
    on the seriousness of Russian actions in Georgia.  Barth Eide
    and Stoere also stressed the need for NATO to return some of
    its focus to ""Article Five"" territorial defense core
    missions, including Norway's High North, although they both
    stressed the GON's continued commitment to Afghanistan.
    Ambassador Volker also met with the Afghan Ambassador to
    Norway to discuss the Afghan Ambassador's proposal for a
    public relations hub designed to assist Afghani Embassies in
    Europe.

    Visit Overview
    -------------

    ¶2. (C) Ambassador Volker visited Oslo, Stavanger and Bodo,
    meeting with FM Jonas Gahr Stoere and Deputy Defense Minister
    Espen Barth Eide and visiting the Joint Warfare Center in
    Stavanger and the Norwegian National Joint Command
    Headquarters  in Bodo.  In Oslo, Ambassador Volker also held
    a talk at the Norwegian Institute for Foreign Affairs
    covering his hectic first week on the job, U.S. actions and
    response to the Georgia crisis and long-term goals for a
    cooperative relationship with Russia.  Norway's NATO
    Ambassador, Kim Traavik, accompanied Ambassador Volker
    throughout most of the trip.

    Georgia
    --------
    ¶3. (C) Ambassador Volker expressed appreciation for FM
    Stoere's strong condemnation of Russian actions in Georgia.
    FM Stoere and Volker agreed on the importance of close allied
    cooperation when structuring NATO's relationship with Georgia
    and that the upcoming NAC visit to Tbilisi should not be
    about MAP status.  Deputy Defense Minister Barth Eide
    expressed concern over the Russian interpretation of the
    ceasefire text and agreement that the Russian behavior was
    unacceptable.  Barth Eide stressed the need for a long-term
    vision for NATO's relations with Georgia.  In his remarks at
    the Norwegian Institute for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador
    Volker described the U.S. policy on Georgia and reaction to
    Russia, stressing the short-term need to handle the crisis
    and the long-term desire to create a cooperative relationship
    with Russia.

    Russia and NATO
    -------------------
    ¶4. (C) NATO's relations with Russia were the dominant theme
    of the visit and there was much discussion over the
    interpretation of the Russian diplomatic notes freezing
    military cooperation with NATO, delivered late on August 21.
    FM Stoere interpreted the Russian note as a pre-emptive move,
    after seeing how united the allies were in condemnation of
    Russian actions in Georgia.  Stoere stressed the importance
    of a united alliance and requested that Norway, as well as
    the Baltic and Eastern European states, be included in
    discussions and decisions regarding Russia from the
    beginning.  Stoere pledged to let the U.S. know divergent
    views but also that he would manage relations to focus on
    cooperation.  Barth Eide stressed the importance of NATO's
    returning to it core mission, maintaining security for its
    member's territory.  He did not see Russia's behavior as new,
    merely the extension of policy from Putin's Munich speech.
    Barth Eide believed that a return in defense planning and
    focus on NATO's territory is necessary to maintain alliance
    unity, and to strengthen public understanding and support,
    particularly in Eastern Europe.  Ambassador Volker agreed
    that this would be important but stressed the continued
    centrality of the fight against terror, reminding Barth Eide
    that Russia does not intend to attack NATO today, unlike
    terrorists.  Ambassador Volker took this opportunity to press
    Norway to increase defense spending.  Barth Eide admitted
    that budgets do not meet the two percent goal but pointed to
    increases in funding and staffing and the Norwegian
    military's presence in the North as positive developments.

    Norway and Russia
    -----------------
    ¶5. (C) Stoere and Barth Eide both stressed that Norway does
    not want to escalate the crisis with Russia and does not see
    Russia as a threat.  Both emphasized the GON's ""two track""
    approach to Russia, keeping bilateral relations on its border
    and in the Arctic calm and productive, while criticizing
    Russia for its behavior elsewhere and supporting western
    multilateral organizations.  The GON considers its bilateral
    relationship with Russia to be a model for other NATO allies
    and Stoere and Barth Eide were insistent on the need to
    maintain contact and dialogue with Russia on bilateral
    issues. In the multilateral arena Stoere stressed the
    importance of NATO solidarity and said that he had spoken
    with Lavrov after Russian threats against Poland. Ambassador
    Volker asked about increases in Russian bomber flights along
    Norway's coast and how the GON views this.  Saying ""we didn't
    miss them when they were gone"" Stoere mentioned that he had
    stressed to Lavrov that the flights make it easy to convince
    the public that Norway should buy new fighter planes.  Stoere
    also brought up the simulated cruise missile attack on Bodo
    during a Nordic foreign ministers meeting with Lavrov.  Since
    then no such practice attacks have been seen.  Stoere also
    mentioned Secretary Rice's comments about Russian flights
    along the Norwegian coast and stressed that the GON does not
    view them as a threat, despite growing Russian interest in
    Svalbard.  Ambassador Volker agreed that this was a good
    public point but that in private the GON should recognize the
    clear message that Russia is sending to Norway and NATO.
    Barth Eide agreed on this point and mentioned the Russian
    aircraft carrier Kuznetsov's cruise through Norway's North
    Sea oil platforms as another incident of Russia sending a
    message.

    6.(C) During briefings in Stavanger and Bodo senior Norwegian
    military officers stressed their concern over the potential
    for trouble with Russia in Svalbard. Russia disputes Norway's
    interpretation of the Svalbard treaty and has recently sent
    warships and fishery inspection vessels into the waters near
    Svalbard. Norway's CHOD publically stated that the potential
    for conflict with Russia is greatest in Svalbard.  With the
    events in Georgia the Norwegian military seems to be focused
    on this potential threat and concerned that NATO is aware of
    this area of vulnerability. MOD sources indicate that the
    Minister of Defense will stress the Norwegian concern over
    Svalbard in the next Defense Ministerial.

    Missile Defense and Cluster Munitions
    ---------------------
    ¶7. (C) Barth Eide and Stoere seemed willing to maintain
    alliance unity and put disagreements over the cluster
    munitions treaty and missile defense behind them.  In
    response to Volker's request to get away from the divisive
    dynamic around missile defense and cluster munitions, Stoere
    stressed the GON's continued skepticism with missile defense
    and said he personally remained to be convinced.  He said
    that the U.S. should not take a lack of debate within NATO as
    agreement and asked if the missile defense systems will
    enhance security.  Stoere also expressed satisfaction with
    the cluster munitions treaty but agreed to manage relations
    to maintian NATO unity and focus on the reaction to Russia's
    challenges.  Barth Eide also was pleased with the cluster
    munitions treaty and said that the credibility gained by
    Norway during the process allowed the GON to play an
    important role in assuring that harder line states did not
    overly impact the treaty.  Barth Eide was less vocal on
    missile defense, saying that GON skepticism was largely for
    domestic reasons and that after the conclusion of agreements
    with the Czech Republic and Poland this would not be as
    contentious.  Barth Eide also stressed that GON skepticism
    was not based on Russian objections.  He proposed that ""just
    as the U.S. is adjusting to the cluster munitions treaty,
    Norway will relate to developments in missile defense.""

    Afghanistan
    ---------
    ¶8. (C) Discussing Afghanistan FM Stoere mentioned the GON's
    appreciation for strong U.S. support for Kai Eide and his UN
    coordination role.  Stoere and Volker discussed the
    challenges of civilian-military coordination and agreed that
    the relative role of the military or civilian actors is
    situationally dependent and needs to be flexible.  Touching
    on Pakistan-Afghan relations, Stoere said the role of the
    Pakistani intelligence service is key.  He also mentioned
    that he has yet to hear any good answer on how to deal with
    Pakistan and that this may in fact be the most difficult
    question in the region.

    ¶9. (C) Ambassador Volker also met with the Afghani Ambassador
    to the Nordic region, Jawed Ludin, to discuss Ludin's
    proposal and request for funding for an Afghan focused media
    hub.  The purpose of the hub would be to assist Afghan
    embassies in Europe react to media stories as well as
    proactively spread more positive stories about Afghanistan.
    Volker was supportive of the idea, suggesting that it needs
    to be located in Brussels to maximize press opportunities and
    promising to mention his support of the idea to Colleen
    Graffey.

    Media Reports
    -----------
    ¶10. (C) Media interest Volker's visit was high, with multiple
    print interviews and coverage by the two major TV channels as
    well as the major radio news station.  Coverage focused on
    the actions leading up to the crisis and the long-term
    prospects for relations with Russia.  Coverage was largely
    positive and supported U.S. criticisms of Russia's actions
    and the right of Georgia to determine its own future
    (although critical of Georgia's actions leading up to the
    conflict).

    Comment:
    ---------
    ¶11. (C) Ambassador Volker's visit to Norway has focused
    attention on the continued relevance of NATO and the need for
    close ties to the United States.  The leader of the
    Conservative opposition party criticized the current
    Labor-led coalition for weakening ties with the U.S. and not
    providing enough funding for defense.  Other voices have
    called for increases in Norway's defense capabilities and
    commitment to NATO.  There is a general consensus here that
    Georgian actions were unwise and led to the conflict and that
    the Norwegian relationship with Russia is categorically
    different. Nonetheless Russia's actions in Georgia, combined
    with the increase in military activity in the Barents region,
    have strengthened advocates of increased defense spending and
    of the importance of maintaining a close relationship with
    the U.S.
    WHITNEY

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