From: <a href="http://www.aftenposten.no/spesial/wikileaksdokumenter/article3955938.ece">Aftenposten</a><br>
Date: 9.3.2006

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C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000279
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/IPA E.O. 12958:
DECL: 03/09/2016 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, PTER, NO, KPAL 
SUBJECT: NORWAY HAS NO PLANS TO RECEIVE HAMAS
REF: SECSTATE 37552
Classified By: P/E Counselor Mike Hammer, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (C)
We delivered reftel demarche to MFA Middle East Office
Director Joern Gjelstad on March 9.  Gjelstad took note of our
comments and promised that he would convey our message
upward. Gjelstad said that Norway did not have regular
political level contact with Hamas; however, at the local
government level the Norwegian mission in Ramallah does meet
with Hamas officials regarding a Norwegian development
assistance programs to local Palestinian communities. These
meetings are characterized not by political discussions, but
are programmatic, focused on the distribution of Norwegian aid
and the progress of funded aid projects, and will continue.

2. (C)
Norway's recent decision to follow the UN's terrorist
designation list instead of the EU's does mean that Norway no
longer officially considers Hamas a terrorist organization.
Gjelstad assured us that this decision was taken to allow
Norway to better facilitate peace efforts in Sri Lanka (the
LTTE is listed as a terrorist organization by the EU, but not
the by the UN), not with a view toward establishing a future
relationship with Hamas. Gjelstad acknowledged that there is
no domestic legal reason for Norway not to meet with Hamas,
but this is a step that politically Norway does not envisage
at this time and Norway had no current plans to receive Hamas
at a senior or political level. He also assured us that Norway
would not initiate any political overture to Hamas without
close prior consultation with the US and other western donors.

Visit Oslo's Classified website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/oslo/index.cf m

WHITNEY
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