Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 14569 / 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 2011/06
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 2011/05/25 2011/05/26 2011/05/27 2011/05/28 2011/05/29 2011/05/30 2011/05/31
2011/06/01 2011/06/02 2011/06/03 2011/06/04 2011/06/05 2011/06/06 2011/06/07 2011/06/08 2011/06/09

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 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 1986/08
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07 1988/08
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
1995/01 1995/04
1996/07 1996/11
1997/02 1997/05 1997/06 1997/10 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/05 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 Belfast 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 Mission Geneva 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 Consulate Thessaloniki
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 AEMR AMGT AR APECO AU AORC AJ AF AFIN AS AM ABLD AFFAIRS APER AA AG AE ADM ALOW ACOA ATRN AID AND ADANA APEC ARABL ADPM ADCO AADP AL AMED AY AORG ASEAN ABUD AO ARF AGRICULTURE AGAO AROC AINF APCS AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASIG ASEX AER AVERY ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT ANET AGMT ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ACAO
BR BB BG BEXP BY BA BRUSSELS BU BD BK BL BH BM BO BTIO BE BIDEN BX BILAT BP BC BF BBSR BT BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CPAS CA CASC CS CBW CIDA CO CODEL CI CROS CU CH CWC CMGT CVIS CDG CD CV CG CF CHIEF CJAN CBSA CE CY CT CM CR CONS CW CDC CN CONDOLEEZZA CICTE CYPRUS COUNTRY CARICOM CBE COE COM CIVS CACS COPUOS CFED CARSON CAPC COUNTER CTR CKGR CHR CVR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE CB CSW CIC CITT CARIB CAFTA CZ CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CONSULAR CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CHINA CAC CL
DR DJ DHS DAO DCM DO DEFENSE DOMESTIC DK DOD DA DE DPRK DEPT DEA DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ECON ETTC EFIS ETRD EC EMIN EAGR EAID EU EFIN EUN ECIN EG EWWT EINV ENRG ELAB EPET EN EAIR EUMEM ECPS ELTN EIND EZ EI ER ET EINT ECONOMIC ENIV EFTA ES ECONOMY ELECTIONS EXIM ENERG EK EDEV ERNG EPA ENGR ETRC ENVI EXTERNAL ELN EAIDS ECA EFINECONCS EINVEFIN EUREM ECOSOC EDU ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ETC ENVR EAP EINN EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUR EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN
FR FI FAS FOREIGN FTAA FREEDOM FBI FINANCE FAA FJ FTA FARC FAC FAO FINR FM FDA FOR FOI FO FMLN FISO
GM GG GERARD GT GA GR GTIP GLOBAL GV GL GOV GOI GF GH GANGS GE GTMO GCC GAERC GZ GAZA GY GUILLERMO GASPAR
HR HO HA HYMPSK HK HUMAN HU HILLARY HI HUM HURI HSTC HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD IWC ITRA IRAQI IDB ISRAELI ITALY ITPGOV ITALIAN INDO ICAO ID IPR INMARSAT ICRC INTERNAL IIP ILC IRS ICJ IO IQ ICTY IEFIN IA INTERPOL IEA INR INRB IAHRC ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRA INRO IBET INTELSAT IDP ICTR IRC
JA JO JM JP JUS JOHN JOSEPH JOHNNIE JAMES JIMENEZ
KOMC KNNP KFLO KDEM KSUM KIPR KFLU KPAO KE KCRM KJUS KAWC KZ KSCA KDRG KCOR KGHG KPAL KTIP KMCA KCRS KPKO KOLY KRVC KVPR KG KWBG KMDR KTER KSPR KV KTFN KWMN KFRD KSTH KS KN KISL KGIC KSEP KFIN KTEX KTIA KUNR KCMR KMOC KCIP KTDB KBIO KU KSTC KIRC KICC KSEO KSAF KPWR KIDE KIRF KR KNUP KCSY KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOCI KMPI KNUC KPAONZ KHLS KPRP KHDP KHIV KTRD KWAC KTAO KJUST KTBT KACT KCRCM KNPP KPRV KNAR KAWK KBCT KMFO KCFE KVIR KX KENV KNDP KMRS KBTS KHSA KSCI KVRP KFSC KPOA KNNPMNUC KO KERG KPIR KCOM KAID KTLA KRCM KCFC KNEI KCHG KPLS KREL KFTFN KTFM KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KBTR KGIT KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KREC KIFR KSAC KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KFPC KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KID KMIG KNSD KWMM
LY LE LABOR LU LTTE LA LI LG LO LH LAB LT LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE ML MR MRCRE MTRE MASC MY MK MAS MO MIL MTCR MG MAPP MAR MU MZ MD MP MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MT MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MEPP MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MI MQADHAFI MPOS MPS MC
NZ NATO NI NO NG NL NU NPT NS NC NA NATIONAL NSF NDP NIPP NSSP NP NE NR NGO NAS NZUS NH NSG NAFTA NEW NRR NT NASA NAR NK NOVO NATOPREL NEA NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD NPG
OTRA OECD OVIP OREP OPRC ODC OIIP OPDC OAS OSCE OPIC OMS OEXC OPCW OPAD ODIP OVIPPRELUNGANU OIE OFDP OHUM OFFICIALS OSCI OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA OVP ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PGOV PREL PARM PINR PHUM PM PREF PTER PK PINS PBIO PHSA PE PBTS PL POL PAK POV POLITICS POLICY PERL PA PCI PAS PALESTINIAN PNAT PPA PROP PREZ PRELPK PAIGH PO PROG POLITICAL PJUS PMIL PRAM PGOF PAO PARMS PG PREO PINO PDOV PSI PTERE PTE PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PDEM PINT PMAR PRELP PREFA PNG PTBS PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PY PLN PHUH PEDRO PF PHUS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PROV
QA
RS RP RU RW RFE RCMP RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT RM RICE ROOD RELAM RO REGION RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REMON REACTION REPORT RSO
SZ SENV SOCI SNAR SY SO SP SU SI SMIG SYR SA SCUL SG SW SR SYRIA SNARM SPECIALIST SEN SC SF SENVSXE SARS SL SAARC SNARIZ SCRS SWE STEINBERG SN SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SIPRS
TRGY TBIO TSPA TU TPHY TI TX TH TIP TSPL TNGD TP TW TZ TN TC TS TF TT TK TD TWI TERRORISM TL TV TO TRSY TURKEY TSPAM TINT TFIN TAGS TR TBID THPY
UK UNSC UNGA UN US UZ USEU UV UG UP UNAUS UNMIK USTR UR UY USPS UNSCR UNHRC UNMIC UNESCO UNCHR USUN UNHCR USGS UNEP USNC USOAS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNDP UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VE VM VT VZ VTEG VTIZ VTPREL VENZ VAT VC VI VN
WHTI WIPO WTRO WS WHO WTO WA WZ WI WBG WMD WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WFP WB
XA XR XW XX XK XL XM XS XF XG XT XH XB XU XE XV XD XC XY XZ XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YL YMCS YE
ZU ZI ZP ZR ZOELLICK ZF ZO ZL ZB ZH ZT ZJ ZEALAND 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 07HELSINKI753, FINLAND, SWEDEN AND NORWAY EXPLORE A "NORDIC

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. #07HELSINKI753.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
07HELSINKI753 | 2007-10-04 13:00 | 2011-04-24 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Helsinki

`

    VZCZCXYZ0009
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHHE #0753/01 2771300
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    R 041300Z OCT 07
    FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3809
    INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
    RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0063
    RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0007
    RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 0015

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000753

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2017
    TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR PGOV NATO AF SU CD FI
    SUBJECT: FINLAND, SWEDEN AND NORWAY EXPLORE A "NORDIC
    APPROACH" TO AFGHANISTAN, CHAD AND THE NRF

    REF: HELSINKI 715

    Classified By: POLCHIEF GREGORY THOME FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

    ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The GOF has begun a series of
    discussions with Norway and Sweden aimed at developing
    a "Nordic approach" to security policy that could
    result in new NATO Response Force (NRF) commitments
    2008; in more Nordic-led OMLTs; and in a long-term
    commitment to staffing the Mazar-al-Shariff ISAF PRT
    under alternating Finnish-Swedish leadership.  In
    addition, GOF sources say the "Nordic approach" will
    make it easier to sell difficult operations like
    Afghanistan to increasingly skeptical public opinion.
    Downsides may include slower decision making, however,
    and numerous difficult details remain to be addressed
    regarding the Mazar PRT.  Meanwhile, the Finns are
    pessimistic about the proposed ESDP Mission to Chad,
    saying that an EU decision not to deploy a Battle Group
    will dramatically limit Nordic troop contributions and
    could jeopardize the whole mission.  End Summary.

    ¶2. (SBU) Finland and Sweden have opened discussions
    aimed at developing a bilateral approach to the NATO
    Response Force (NRF) membership and a "Nordic approach"
    (along with Norway) to crisis management (CM)
    operations in Afghanistan and Africa.  As part of what
    will likely develop into a series of diplomatic and
    military conversations, MFA State Secretary Pertti
    Torstila traveled to Stockholm for discussions with his
    counterparts Sept. 23 and the Swedish and Finnish MODs
    met as part of an unofficial meeting of EU Defense
    Ministers in Portugal Sept. 28-29.  This cable is based
    on informal read-outs from MFA and MOD contacts on
    those meetings.  We understand discussion will expand
    to include Norway at an Oct. 9 meeting in Oslo.

    Nordic Cooperation
    ------------------
    ¶3. (C) In an era when expensive and difficult
    operations like Afghanistan are increasingly a
    priority, the "Nordic approach" concept is emerging as
    the key to maximizing scarce CM resources, Finnish
    contacts say.  As important, they add, is the fact that
    a Nordic approach makes it easier for all three
    governments to sell the tough mission in Afghanistan
    (and politically sensitive endeavors like joining the
    NRF) to an increasingly skeptical public.  As one
    official put it, the EU Battle groups require the
    Nordics to cooperate tactically, but the Afghanistan
    operation and the closer relationship with NATO are
    issues that call for joint strategies on the political
    and public diplomacy levels.

    PRTs and OMLTs
    --------------
    ¶4. (C) The Finns are particularly hopeful that the
    Nordic approach will help them do more in Afghanistan -
    - a goal which is high on the GOF's agenda but has
    proven politically difficult to implement.  When PDAS
    Kurt Volker visited Finland in mid-September, senior
    MFA and MOD officials enthusiastically described plans
    to offer OMLTs in Afghanistan and to take leadership of
    the ISAF PRT at Mazar-al-Shariff in late 2008 (reftel).
    Since then, however, many questions -- both political
    and operational -- have arisen.  Torstila's meetings
    represented the "initial political effort" to negotiate
    a rotating Finnish-Swedish PRT leadership structure at
    Mazar-al-Sharif, MFA contacts reported.  However, they
    hastened to add, "much more negotiation needs to
    occur," especially regarding troop commitments.  Sweden
    currently has 365 troops in Mazar and leads the PRT,
    while the Finns supply about 90.  The Swedes told
    Torstila that sizeable impending budget cuts will
    likely result in force reductions at Mazar, but they
    hoped that the Finnish troop increases that would have
    to accompany a PRT leadership role could offset Swedish
    decreases.  However, the GOF is currently considering
    an additional 50 to 60 troops -- a figure Finnish
    officials readily admit would fall far short of what is
    necessary to lead the PRT effectively, especially if
    the Swedes draw down.  The 50-60 figure is not set in
    stone and could well increase, MFA contacts said, and
    the Swedes did not in any way reject the Finnish idea
    of rotating PRT leadership.  However, there is
    currently a disconnect and more discussions still
    obviously need to occur.

    ¶5. (SBU) As for OMLTs, the Nordic approach offers good

    possibilities.  Finnish Political Director Pilvi-Sisko
    Vierros Villeneuve had suggested to PDAS Volker that
    the Finns would offer their own stand-alone OMLT
    (reftel).  However, it appears that the Finnish MOD and
    MFA now believe that an increase in the number of
    "Nordic OMLTs" can be even greater if the GOF pools
    resources with regional partners.  Norway and Sweden
    already operate two OMLTs jointly and, with added
    Finnish contributions, that number could be increased.
    MFA sources say Norway has formally "invited" Finland
    to join OMLT operations as they expand.  Our Finnish
    briefers were unclear at this point as to how many
    Nordic OMLTs are ultimately planned.  However, they
    were enthusiastic about the possibility of an increase
    beyond three under shared Nordic leadership.

    NRF: A Tougher Sell than Expected
    ---------------------------------
    ¶6. (C) The Finns are also hopeful that the Nordic
    security approach will help them sell the concept of
    NRF participation.  Before the previous center-right
    government left office, Finland's joining the NRF
    seemed almost a done deal.  The then-Foreign Minister
    (a notorious NATO skeptic) had publicly accepted the
    idea, and President Halonen also seemed to be on board.
    Now, however, the new center-right has encountered
    surprisingly staunch opposition to NRF participation as
    much from within the coalition as from the opposition.
    Some Finnish politicians have begun hiding behind the
    allegation that the NATO Allies are so unclear about
    the future structure of the NRF that they do not want
    Partner countries expressing interest at this point.
    (COMMENT: The Embassy has worked hard to dispel this
    canard, emphasizing that although the Allies are
    carefully considering changes to the NRF's structure
    and deployment guidelines, expressions of interest from
    Partners are indeed welcome.  END COMMENT.)

    ¶7. (C) MFA and MOD contacts -- who fully support NRF
    participation -- are very hopeful that as the "Nordic
    approach" develops, it will serve as a useful tool to
    undermine rumors and increase political and public
    support for the NRF.  The key for us is to move forward
    with our Nordic partners to make this happen, one MFA
    office director said.  Neither country can be held
    hostage to the other's progress toward full NRF
    participation, but both Stockholm and Helsinki are
    hopeful of making a firm commitment either at the April
    Bucharest NATO Summit or, at the very latest, in time
    for the November 2008 NATO Force Generation Conference.

    The Chad Mission May Stumble
    ----------------------------
    ¶8. (C) Separately, the Finns have expressed
    disappointment that the Nordic EU Battle Group (EUBG)
    that will stand up Jan. 1 will not be deployed as part
    of a proposed ESDP mission to Chad.  The GOF favored
    deployment, but consensus in the EU was that the tasks
    and timetable in Chad did not fit EUBG parameters, MFA
    contacts reported.  Deployment of the BG would have
    permitted 1000 Swedish forces and some 240 Finns to
    participate.  The EU will now seek to staff the Chad
    mission via "the usual force generation" mechanisms;
    however, our disappointed contacts said, budget
    constraints will likely limit the Swedish contribution
    to no more than 200, and the Finnish to about 12
    police/civilian crisis managers.

    COMMENT
    -------
    ¶9. (C) The GOF is encountering domestic uneasiness
    regarding its ambitious plans to do more in Afghanistan
    and to join the NRF.  As this slow, consensus-building
    process plays out, we will continue to encourage
    creative ideas like the "Nordic approach" which do
    appear to hold promise, both as a way of maximizing
    Nordic resources and winning over the naysayers.  End
    Comment.
    WARE

`