Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12931 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen

### 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 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 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 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/07 1996/11
1997/06 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 2002/12
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 Consulate Karachi
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
ASEC AR AF AGR AFIN AMGT ABLD AU AEMR AJ AID AMCHAMS AMED AS APER AE AORC AECL ABUD AM AG AL AUC APEC AY APECO AFGHANISTAN ACAO ANET AFFAIRS AND ADPM ASEAN ADM AGAO AINF ATRN ALOW ACOA AROC AA AADP ARF APCS ADANA ADCO AORG AO AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASIG ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT AGMT ACS
BA BR BL BO BRUSSELS BT BM BU BY BG BEXP BK BH BD BP BTIO BB BE BILAT BC BX BIDEN BF BBSR BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CY CA CD CVIS CACS CH CS CO CONS CDG CE CMGT CPAS CU CIC CASC CG CI CHR CAPC CJAN CBW CLINTON CW CWC CTR CIDA CODEL CROS CM CV CF COM COPUOS CT CARSON CBSA CN CHIEF CR CONDOLEEZZA CDC CICTE CYPRUS COUNTER COUNTRY CBE CFED CKGR CVR COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CARICOM CB CSW CITT CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CAC CL
DR DJ DA DHS DAO DCM DE DOD DOMESTIC DO DEFENSE DK DPRK DEPT DEA DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ETTC EC EAIR EWWT EAGR EUN ECON EINV ETRD EMIN ENRG EFIN EAID EG ES ELAB EUR EN EPET EIND ELTN EU ECUN EI EZ EFIS ENIV ER ET EXIM ECIN ECPS EINT ELN ECONOMY EUMEM ERNG EK EUREM EFINECONCS EFTA ENERG ELECTIONS EAIDS ECA EPA ENGR ETRC EXTERNAL ENVI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EINVEFIN ETC ENVR EAP EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS
FI FR FMLN FISO FAS FJ FAC FTAA FREEDOM FM FOREIGN FINANCE FBI FDA FARC FAO FINR FTA FOR FOI FO
GG GR GT GM GAERC GH GY GOV GA GERARD GTIP GV GOI GANGS GLOBAL GTMO GL GF GCC GE GZ GAZA
HA HK HU HILLARY HSTC HO HR HYMPSK HUMAN HI HURI HEBRON HUMOR
IR IZ IC IAEA IS ICRC ICAO IN IO IT IV IAHRC IWC ICJ ITRA IMO IRC IRAQI ILO ISRAELI ITU IMF IBRD IQ ILC ID IEFIN ICTY ITALY IPR IIP INMARSAT ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL IRS IA INTERPOL IEA INR INRB ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI INDO IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRA INRO IBET INTELSAT IDP ICTR
JP JA JO JM JOHNNIE JOHN JAMES JUS JOSEPH
KOMC KRVC KSCA KPKO KNNP KCOR KTFN KDEM KJUS KCRM KGHG KISL KIRF KFRD KWMN KNEI KN KS KE KPAO KVPR KHLS KV KOLY KGIT KFLU KFLO KSAF KGIC KU KTIP KMDR KIPR KPAL KNSD KTIA KSEP KAWC KG KWBG KBIO KIDE KPLS KTDB KMPI KBTR KDRG KZ KUNR KHDP KSAC KACT KRAD KSUM KIRC KCFE KWMM KICC KR KCOM KAID KBCT KVIR KHSA KMCA KCRS KVRP KTER KSPR KSTC KSTH KPOA KFIN KTEX KCMR KMOC KCIP KAWK KTBT KPRV KO KX KMFO KENV KCRCM KBTS KSEO KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOCI KNUP KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KSCI KPRP KTLA KHIV KCSY KTRD KNAR KWAC KMRS KNPP KJUST KPWR KRCM KCFC KCHG KREL KFTFN KLIG KDEMAF KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KPIR KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KREC KIFR KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KFSC KID KMIG
LE LY LG LH LA LOG LU LABOR LI LTTE LAB LO LT
MOPS MO MASS MNUC MCAP MARR MU MTCRE MC MX MIL MG MR MAS MT MI MPOS MD ML MRCRE MTRE MY MASC MK MTCR MAPP MZ MP MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MAR MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MEPP MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MQADHAFI MPS
NZ NATO NA NU NL NI NO NASA NP NEW NE NSG NPT NPG NS NR NG NSF NGO NSSP NATIONAL NDP NIPP NZUS NH NAFTA NC NRR NT NAR NK NATOPREL NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD
OTRA OVIP OPRC OAS OSCE OIIP OREP OEXC OPDC OPIC OFDP ODIP OHUM OSCI OVP OPCW OECD OPAD ODC OFFICIALS OIE OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PREL PTER PK PGOV PINR PO PINS PREF PARM PBTS PHUM PA PE POL PM PAHO PL PHSA PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PREFA PMIL POLITICS POLICY PROV PBIO PALESTINIAN PAS PREO PAO PAK PDOV POV PCI PGOF PG PRAM PSI POLITICAL PROP PAIGH PJUS PARMS PROG PTERE PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA PNAT POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PY PLN PHUH PF PHUS PTBS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS
QA
RS RU RO RM RP RW RFE RCMP REGION RIGHTSPOLMIL ROOD RICE ROBERT RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REACTION REPORT RSO
SA SENV SR SG SNAR SU SOCI SP SL SY SMIG SW SO SCUL SZ SI SIPRS SAARC SYR SYRIA SWE SARS SNARIZ SF SEN SCRS SC STEINBERG SN SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN
TPHY TU TSPA TBIO TSPL TRGY TW TZ TC TX TT TIP TS TNGD TF TL TV TN TI TH TP TD TK TERRORISM TO TRSY TURKEY TINT TFIN TAGS TR TBID THPY
UK UP UNSC UNO UN UY UNGA USEU UZ US UNESCO UG USTR UNHRC UNCND USUN UV UNMIK USNC UNHCR UNAUS UNCHR USOAS UNEP USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNDP UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT
VE VT VTPREL VZ VTIZ VN VM VTEG VAT VC VI
WTRO WBG WHTI WHO WS WTO WIPO WI WMD WZ WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WA WFP WB
XL XK XG XV XR XT XB XF XM XA XW XX XY XS XE XZ XU XH XD XC XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YMCS YE
ZI ZEALAND ZU ZP ZR ZO ZL ZOELLICK ZF ZB ZJ ZN ZA ZK ZANU

### 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 11:48 | 2011-01-13 05:37 | 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

`