From: <a href="http://www.aftenposten.no/spesial/wikileaksdokumenter/article3972768.ece">Aftenposten</a><br>
Date: 02.09.2008: 
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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 VOLKERS 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 Volkers August 21-24th visit to Noway featured
extensive private and public discusions on Georgia and on
Russia including a well received address at Norways 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
Norways High North, although they both stressed the GONs
continued commitment to Afghanistan. Ambassador Volker also
met with the Afghan Ambassador to Norway to discuss the Afghan
Ambassadors 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. Norways NATO Ambassador, Kim Traavik, accompanied
Ambassador Volker throughout most of the trip.

Georgia 
-------- 

3. (C)
Ambassador Volker expressed appreciation for FM Stoeres strong
condemnation of Russian actions in Georgia. FM Stoere and
Volker agreed on the importance of close allied cooperation
when structuring NATOs 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 NATOs 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)
NATOs 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 NATOs returning to it core mission, maintaining
security for its members territory. He did not see Russias
behavior as new, merely the extension of policy from Putins
Munich speech. Barth Eide believed that a return in defense
planning and focus on NATOs 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 militarys
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 GONs "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 Norways coast and how the GON
views this. Saying "we didnt 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 Rices
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 Kuznetsovs cruise through Norways
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 Norways
interpretation of the Svalbard treaty and has recently sent
warships and fishery inspection vessels into the waters near
Svalbard. Norways 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 Volkers
request to get away from the divisive dynamic around missile
defense and cluster munitions, Stoere stressed the GONs
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 Russias 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 GONs
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 Ludins 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 Volkers 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 Russias actions and the right of
Georgia to determine its own future (although critical of
Georgias actions leading up to the conflict).

Comment:
--------- 

11. (C)
Ambassador Volkers 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 Norways
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 Russias 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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