Up

Wikileaks from Aftenposten

A few (today: 157) Wikileaks cables published in the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten (and not yet elsewhere).

Sri Lanka

Cables on Sri Lanka (37 cables, 32 from Colombo, 1 from London, 2 from Oslo, 1 from Tokyo, 1 from US).

Elsewhere

Abbreviations:
GONL: Government of the Netherlands, GON: Government of Norway, GOI: Government of Israel, GOJ: Government of Japan / Jordan, USG: US Government, MFA: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FM: Foreign Minister VFM: Vice Foreign Minister BND: Bundesnachrichtendienst

2002-09-19 02AMMAN5398 MULLAH KREKAR CASE: STATE OF PLAY IN JORDAN
GONL is considering sending a legal expert to Jordan to help the Jordanians properly structure its follow-on legal documents.
2002-09-26 02AMMAN5528 GOJ TO APPROACH DUTCH TO ASK THAT MULLAH KREKAR NOT BE EXPELLED TO NORWAY
the Dutch said they were worried that, if Norway strips Krekar of his refugee status and the 3-judge panel in the October 9 extradition hearing denies Jordan´s extradition request, the GONL will be forced to release Krekar -- an outcome the Dutch (and Jordanians) definitely do not want.
2003-05-16 03ANKARA3257 ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT
Peter Bergen, a known Al Qaida expert, believes that the organization is more of an ideology than a network. .
2007-06-04 07ANKARA1360 ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2007
General Yasar Buyukanit told a symposium at the War Academy in Istanbul that he had already drawn the government´s attention to the need for launching a cross-border operation into northern Iraq
2008-03-26 08ASHGABAT379 SD TEAM - ASHGABAT
Embassy Ashgabats Surveillance Detection (SD) operations have been severely restricted by the Government of Turkmenistan
2007-10-24 07ASTANA2934 KAZAKHSTANI BUSINESSMAN AGAIN REQUESTS USG HELP WITH BID FOR AFGHAN MINE
XXXXX told Econoff on October 24 that he expects the GOA's decision on the AYNAK mine to materialize soon and requested USG assistance with promoting the Kazakhstani bid over the Chinese one (masquerading as Canadian).
2009-12-30 09ASTANA2257 KAZAKHSTANS INITIAL RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE TO PREVENT THE TRANSFER OF URANIUM TO IRAN
"My initial response is nyet, nyet, and nyet."
2009-12-31 09ASTANA2273 KAZAKHSTAN STRONGLY DENIES REPORT OF POTENTIAL URANIUM TRANSER TO IRAN
"The IAEA says that they do not have the report, which leads us to the conclusion that it was orchestrated."
2009-02-18 04BAGHDAD429 RRT ERBIL: THE SILENT IMAMS, DEALING WITH EXTEMIST MESSAGES IN THE KURDISTAN REGION - RESEND
A number of Muslim leaders in the Kurdistan region took to the pulpit in December/January to denounce Israeli actions in the Gaza strip and call for the destruction of the Israeli state and death to Jews. In response, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) banned these Imams from preaching
2001-12-27 01BEIJING12362 HU JINTAO: TAKING SHAPE AS CHINA'S LEADER
HU MAY WELL PURSUE A REFORMIST AGENDA AFTER TAKING THE REINS OF PARTY AND STATE OVER THE NEXT 15 MONTHS.
2006-10-27 06BEIJING22825 BEIJING HUMAN RIGHTS WATCHERS DISCUSS EU HR DIALOGUE; RAISE TIBET SHOOTING INCIDENT
... ascribed the September 30 shooting of Tibetans to "normal border guard behavior."
2006-05-30 06BEIJING10603 HUMAN RIGHTS: AMBASSADOR URGES CHINA TO TAKE ACTION
China still awaits our comments on its Four Points, which the MFA passed to us in April. (Note: We have to date deemed it inappropriate to respond because the Four Points, involving steps the United States should take to ensure a more productive human rights relationship with China, do not, in our view, merit serious consideration. End note.)
2006-07-26 06BEIJING15437 HUMAN RIGHTS: CHINA´S DIALOGUE PARTNERS HAVE MIXED VIEWS ON EXCHANGES
With the exception of the downbeat Dutch, all the officers we spoke with said their countries value the bilateral human rigts dialogues and intend to continue the exchanges. (Note: The Dutch gave no indication that they intend to cut off the exchanges; they just expressed skepticism about their worth.)
2007-04-18 07BEIJING2599 BEIJING HUMAN RIGHTS WATCHERS DISCUSS DIALOGUES, BERN PROCESS, VATICAN, EXTRADITION TREATIES
Dong added that any country´s participation in the former Bern Process will have an adverse impact on that country´s bilateral relationship with China. ...
Liu Jinguang recently referred approvingly to cooperation between Germany and the Vatican on selection of bishops. Liu said the German "model" would be "acceptable in China."
2007-11-07 07BEIJING7004 CONTACTS ASSESS HU JINTAO'S STRENGTH AFTER THE PARTY CONGRESS
Some focus on Hu's having achieved his top priorities, namely pushing out Zeng Qinghong and elevating his protege Li Keqiang, while others assert that Hu and his allies still remain a minority on the PBSC.
2007-11-14 07BEIJING7107 CONTACTS ON NEW POLITBURO STANDING COMMITTEE MEMBER XI JINPING'S RISE, NEW LEADERSHIP LINEUP
the elevation of "fifth generation" leaders Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang to the Politburo Standing Committee (PBSC) at the recently completed 17th Communist Party Congress (Ref A) may be the Congress's most significant outcome
2008-02-22 08BEIJING645 HU JINTAO's CHINA OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
Hu appears to be working toward a future China that enjoys the benefits of a market-based economy and limited civil society governed by an efficient, accountable and responsive authoritarian one-party state.
2008-08-08 08BEIJING3060 BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT 8
Authorities have resorted to blunt security measures, Embassy interlocutors said, because the threat facing the Games is so undefined.
2008-08-21 08BEIJING3216 BEIJING 2008 SUMMER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT 21
The Dutch commercial broadcaster Radio 538 on 08/19/2008 continued to defy both the Chinese censors and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by broadcasting live from Beijing during the Olympic Games
2008-09-03 08BEIJING3400 AMBASSADOR URGES INVESTIGATION OF SHIPMENT TO IRAN OF CHINESE GOODS OF PROLIFERATION CONCERN
grave concern regarding Chinese sales of dual-use material and items to Iran
2009-02-27 09BEIJING517 PRC LEADERS KEEN TO FORGE CLOSE TIES WITH U.S.; HU JINTAO SEEKS TAIWAN BREAKTHROUGH AS HIS LEGACY
"zhua zhu meiguo, jiu zhua zhu quan shijie."
2009-03-20 09BEIJING724 CHINA URGED TO HALT LIMMTS CONTINUED PROLIFERATION TO IRANS MISSILE PROGRAM
while China looks forward to future cooperation with the United States on nonproliferation, sanctions were not conducive to the whole atmosphere
2009-08-20 09BEIJING2404 AFGHANISTAN - MANAGING THE NEIGHBORS: CHINA
if Chinese companies were successful in winning these bids, total Chinese investment in Afghanistan could surpass USD 20 billion by 2014
2009-10-21 09BEIJING2918 PRC/AFGHANISTAN: MCC ON THE AYNAK COPPER MINE PROJECT
The company hoped to begin small-scale production by the end of 2011
2009-10-26 09BEIJING2964 DEPUTY SECRETARY STEINBERG´S SEPTEMBER 29, 2009 MEETING WITH PRC VICE FOREIGN MINISTER WU DAWEI
China hoped the U.S. would initiate contact with North Korea
2009-12-10 09BEIJING3295 CHINESE FIRM RE-THINKS AFGHAN MINING CONTRACT AFTER DIFFICULTIES OF THE AYNAK COPPER MINE PROJECT
Shen's repeated references to state instructions likely were his way of absolving the company of proceeding with what he saw as an economically unsound project.
2010-02-12 10BEIJING383 STOMP AROUND AND CARRY A SMALL STICK: CHINA´S NEW "GLOBAL ASSERTIVENESS" RAISES HACKLES, BUT HAS MORE FORM THAN SUBSTANCE
foreign observers should not take Chinese rhetorical strutting too seriously, as "actions speak louder than words"
2010 10BEIJING430 CHINA ALERTED TO POSSIBLE MISSILE-RELATED EXPORT TO IRAN
Since the January 30 announcement of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, officials ... are currently placing all demarche requests "under consideration"
2006-08-21 06BEIRUT2717 NAMBIAR AND LARSEN DISCUSS UNSCR 1701 (AND TERJE DISCUSSES TERJE)
"Pellegrini was star struck by seeing all those people looking at him," Larsen claimed; "he completely undermined one of the major purposes of the meeting."
2006-09-27 06BEIRUT3128 PEDERSEN OPPOSED TO JOSHKA FISCHER'S APPOINTMENT
If Fischer is appointed, Pedersen said that he would quit his UN position by the end of the year and return to Norway.
2009-02-05 09BERLIN161 BND LOBBYING MERKEL AND USG ON SATELLITE RECONNAISSANCE COOPERATION
HiROS HAS MERKELS EAR, BUT HOW ABOUT HER WALLET?
2009-02-12 09BERLIN181 GERMANY SEEKS U.S. PARTNER TO DEVELOP OPTICAL SPACE IMAGERY CAPABILITIES
Germany,s plan exclude any reliance on other EU members (i.e. France)
2009-09-04 09BERLIN437 DEMARCHE DELIVERED: IRAN ATTEMPTING TO PROCURE DUAL-USE VALVES FROM GERMAN FIRM
Iranian effort to procure 1800 stainless steel valves
2009-05-15 09BERLIN561 GERMANY EXPANDING OVERHEAD RECONNAISSANCE PROGRAMS AND EYE CLOSER USG PARTNERSHIP
BND is proposing an EO sensor capable of 0.5 meter resolution (1.1 meter diameter mirror) and a daily revisit capability for any spot on the Earths surface.
2009-05-20 09BERLIN601 GERMAN COMPANY MARKETING SATELLITE IMAGERY TO US DESPITE FRENCH OPPOSITION
According to an Astrium-Friedrichshafen official, the Government of France will use its influence in Astrium -- as the majority share holder -- to halt development of HiROS in order to protect French commercial EO ambitions. Astrium-Friedrichshafen/DLR are actively courting USG support for HiROS as a potential counter to French HiROS opposition
2009-09-03 09BERLIN1080 GERMANY TO FRANCE: STAY OUT OF OUR COMMERCIAL SATELLITE AFFAIRS
The German Space Agency (DLR) is taking steps to repel French interference in Germanys electro-optical (EO) imagery satellite development by forming strategic partnerships with satellite makers OHB-System AG and the German portion of Astrium in Friedrichshafen. The DLR is concerned that French influence in Astrium is steering Astrium-Friedrichshafen in ways favoring the French commercial space industry
2009-09-10 09BERLIN1116 GERMAN INTELLIGENCE VIEWS ON OPTICAL RECONNAISSANCE CAPABILITIES
the German Space Agency (DLR) is planning on signing a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Lockheed Martin for cooperation on HiROS on September 30 in Denver, CO.
2009-09-11 09BERLIN1130 GERMAN OPTICAL SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING: THE PATH FORWARD
DLR is conducting classified research into the possibility of building a three-meter aperture telescope mirror that would not be made of silicon carbide, but of a "brand new material" (NFI).
2009-09-18 09BERLIN1160 NIAG 9130 DEMARCHE DELIVERED: IRAN SEEKS GERMAN-ORIGIN VALVES FOR ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM
for use in Irans IR-40 heavy water nuclear reactor.
2009-09-30 09BERLIN1207 GERMAN SPACE AGENCY SEEKING USG SUPPORT ON OPTICAL SATELLITE COOPERATION
Eckardt hoped that US and German interests would each purchase a set of three HiROS satellites, creating a combined six-satellite constellation. Each party would have primary tasking on its own set, and that excess capacity would be made available to the other party.
2009-10-22 09BERLIN1324 OHB-SYSTEM CEO CALLS GALILEO A WASTE OF GERMAN TAX PAYER MONEY
GALILEO IS A STUPID IDEA BUT OHB WILL TAKE THE BUSINESS
2009-11-20 09BERLIN1476 OHB-SYSTEM TO BUILD GERMAN OPTICAL SPY SATELLITE; LOOKING AT U.S. MARKET
a system that France would like to see not happen because it would directly compete with its own commercial satellites.
2010-01-14 10BERLIN43 OHB ECLIPSES ASTRIUM FOR GALILEO CONTRACT BUT BOTH END UP WINNERS
Interestingly, this is not a total loss for Astrium, as it is the majority shareholder of SSTL and is entitled to a share of the OHB/SSTL profits.
2006-05-05 06BERN898 SWITZERLAND & LIECHTENSTEIN: ASSESSING OUR BILATERAL RELATIONSHIPS
Switzerland and Liechtenstein are niche players in the world and we must be creative in how we challenge them to contribute to our shared goals.
2008-12-02 08BERN612 BILATERAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH SWITZERLAND AND THE PRINCIPALITY OF LIECHTENSTEIN
U.S. and Swiss soldiers never fought side-by-side in a war ... Swiss behavior regarding Iran is of particular concern
2009-07-01 09BERN273 SWITZERLAND SHUTTING DOWN COLENCOS BUSINESS WITH IRAN
The Minister also reaffirmed the commitment of the Swiss government to accept several detainees from Guantanamo Bay for resettlement in Switzerland. Minister Leuthard made it clear that these two activities were linked to the achievement of a political settlement in the case of Swiss banking giant, UBS.
2009-12-09 09BRUSSELS1656 CHALLENGES WITH CHINA DISCUSSED AT HUMAN RIGHTS EXCHANGE
The Dutch provided a historical perspective on the situation, saying that in China, religion is not viewed as an intrinsic right, but rather as a tool of society.
2006-05-05 06CARACAS1213 MURDER OF PRIEST PITS BRV AGAINST CHURCH
A Real Life Murder Mystery
2006-05-26 06CASABLANCA571 Tsunami Destroys Casablanca - Next Thursday
Julian claimed he had received information psychically that a comet fragment would crash into the Atlantic Ocean on May 25, 2006
2006-03-17 06COPENHAGEN336 MOHAMMED CARTOONS: DENMARK WILL NOT PROSECUTE THE NEWSPAPER
Danish officials are braced for a hostile reaction in the Muslim nations
2006-03-21 06COPENHAGEN352 ANTI-ISRAEL CLAUSES - LESS THAN MEETS THE EYE
it has become known that some Danish firms accept the use of anti-Israel clauses
2006-09-29 06COPENHAGEN1327 CARTOON ANNIVERSARY: DANISH PAPER DECIDES AGAINST REPRINTING MOHAMMED DRAWINGS
So sensitive was the issue, Lidegaard told the Ambassador confidentially, that the prime minister´s office had made a conscious decision not to alert the foreign ministry or the intelligence services.
2007-10-15 07COPENHAGEN970 DENMARK´S NASER KHADER TWO YEARS AFTER THE MOHAMMED CRISIS: POSTURING TRUMPS POLICY
Friends and foes talk openly of Khader as a smooth but flaky policy dilettante who has mastered the art of political communication but cannot deliver on substance.
2008-02-13 08COPENHAGEN70 DENMARK: CARTOONS IN DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH
the Danish MFA nervously monitors reactions in the Muslim world
2006-02-05 06DAMASCUS??? ANTI-EUROPEAN RIOTS HIT DAMASCUS, AS FOUR EMBASSIES ARE STORMED
Mobs angered about cartoon depictions of the prophet Mohammed ... We concur with contacts that the SARG allowed these demonstrations to occur
2006-02-06 06DAMASCUS??? SHEIKH CONFIRMS SARG INVOLVEMENT IN ESCALATING SITUATION IN DAYS PRIOR TO RIOTING
PM Naji al-Otri several days before the demonstrations instructed the Grand Mufti Sheikh Hassoun to issue a strongly worded directive to the imams delivering Friday sermons in the mosques of Damascus
2005-10-07 05GENEVA2414 POSSIBLE SURVEILLANCE - US MISSION GENEVA - 04 and 06 OCT 2005
A couple was observed in the parking lot of the Domaine de Penthes Museum, approximately 100 meters across from the main entrance of the U.S. Mission.
2006-03-23 06KABUL1281 KARZAI PROPOSES NEW CABINET
The new Cabinet does not represent a significant departure from the previous one.
2007-04-10 07KABUL1172 Afghanistan: Aynak Copper Deposit: A Test Case for Afghanistan
Nine companies, including the American firm Phelps Dodge, are in the fray in a competitive bidding process.
2007-11-27 07KABUL3932 Aynak Copper: Details of winning Chinese bid remain elusive.
After a prolonged tender and evaluation process, on October 20, 2007, the state-owned China Metallurgical Group (CMG) was awarded the right to start negotiating a detailed contract for the Aynak Copper Mine project. ... The Chinese Government agreed to fund the estimated $5 billion cost of building the railroad from the Hairatan railhead with Uzbekistan through Kabul and Aynak to the Torkham border with Pakistan.
2008-02-18? 08KABUL399 TURKS WANT DOSTUM TO STAY QUIET IN THE NORTH, AMBASSADOR PRESSES FOR HIS DEPARTURE
he personally sees the Uzbek strongman as incorrigible and knows him to be in poor health
2008-10-22 08KABUL2827 MINERALS ABOUND IN AFGHANISTAN, AN UPDATE ON THE SECTOR
large tenders in the iron-ore, oil and gas sectors beckon.
2009-05-07 09KABUL1178 SPANTA AND CHARGE DISCUSS ELECTION POLITICS AND UPCOMING TRILATERAL MEETINGS
Spanta was not happy with Karzai,s choice of Marshall Mohammed Fahim but could not offer a better candidate of his own.
2009-10-05 09KABUL3101 Security and Social Issues at Aynak Copper Mine
Problems are delaying progress on the massive Chinese Aynak copper mine project, Afghanistan?s single largest foreign investment to date totaling almost USD 3 billion in infrastructural investment.
2009-11-07 09KABUL3574 hinese Firm Again Frontrunner for Major Afghan Mining Contract
China Metallurgical Group (MCC), the Chinese state-owned firm operating the Aynak copper mine, is a leading bidder for the multi-billion dollar Hajigak iron ore mine in Bamyan.
2009-12-03 09KABUL3865 KARZAI LOOKS FORWARD
In the meeting, Karzai provided criticism and a puzzling overview of the root causes of corruption in Afghanistan, largely casting blame on expat-Afghans and foreigners.
2009-12-09 09KABUL3972 Afghanistan's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Completion Point: Awaiting Mining Sector Reforms
Ambassador Wayne indicated the U.S. had concerns about the issuance of a waiver on the mining trigger, which has been recommended by the World Bank and IMF, in light of recent allegations in the U.S. press that the Minister of Mines received a payment of $30 million during the bidding process for the Aynak Copper Mine.
2007-12-21 07MINSK1045 EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT
Unlike during the USSR, the department is not engaged in studying paranormal phenomena. ... when it comes to healers, UFOs and such, we just can´t deal with them any more.
2007-09-24 07MOSCOW4691 CHEVRON RUSSIA PRESIDENT ON CPC BREAKTHROUGH, COMPANY,S PLANS IN RUSSIA, TURKMENISTAN
He expressed optimism that by 2014 the CPC would be carrying up to 68 million tons of oil per year (up from the current 33), that it would be debt-free, and that it would be "making a fortune" for its owners.
2005-04-25 05MUSCAT679 URGENT PSI REQUEST - NEED FINANCIAL, LEGAL DETAIL
Various sources have indicated that the Norwegian captain of the vessel transporting a suspicious crane shipment to Iran is contemplating off-loading the goods in Oman...
2005-04-26 05MUSCAT687 PSI: GERMAN CRANE SHIPMENT - NO ACTION EXPECTED IN MUSCAT
Berlin may not yet have decided that any action, in fact, is warranted.
2006-04-02 06MUSCAT503 SCENESETTER FOR U/S ROBERT JOSEPH'S VISIT TO MUSCAT
Oman's cooperation with PSI was tested in a real scenario in April 2005 when a German-produced crane of dual-use concern was inadvertently loaded on a Norwegian freighter for Iran.
2006-01-23 06OSLO??? AMBASSADORS CALL ON DEVELOPMENT MINISTER SOLHEIM
Solheim bluntly explained that Norway needs to be cautious in its approach to the Caucasus given that it is Russias backyard.
2006-01-31 06OSLO101 A/S FRIED´S VISIT: NORWAY AN ENERGY SECURITY PLAYER
A/S Fried thanked the Foreign Minister for his prompt and correct response to the Finance Minister´s outrageous call for a boycott of Israel earlier this month.
2006-02-13 06OSLO??? NORSK HYDRO CEO URGES GREATER U.S. ATTENTION TO HIGH NORTH ENERGY, RUSSIAN ENERGY/GAS MARKET DESIGN
Reiten cited Gazproms insistence that it control where gas from the Shtokman project was marketed, a strong grip on piped gas to Europe
2006-03-09 06OSLO279 NORWAY HAS NO PLANS TO RECEIVE HAMAS
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.
2006-04-11 06OSLO467 "GRIM" PROSPECTS FOR SRI LANKA PEACE TALKS
Geneva Two will likely be postponed, if not canceled.
2006-05-15 06OSLO630 NORWAY WILL NOT PUBLICLY SUPPORT UN 1267 KREKAR DESIGNATION
The MFA wants no fingers pointing back to Norway and is terrified lest it ever became public knowledge that we have had any official bilateral communication on this subject.
2006-06-11 06OSLO??? LAVROV AND STOERE TALK BUSINESS, IGNORE TOUGH ISSUES
FM Stoere began the meetings by saying that they should focus on regional Barents issues, and the discussion that followed did just that.
2006-06-12 06OSLO759 SRI LANKA TALKS DISINTEGRATE IN OSLO
the talks did not occur for a variety of reasons, including the LTTE's ... dissatisfaction with the EU's recent designation of the LTTE as a terrorist organization
2007-03-13 07OSLO248 NORWAY: MISSLE DEFENSE PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND OUTREACH
Norway,s government remains opposed in principle to missile defenses writ large and skeptical of U.S. plans to base missile installations in Central Europe.
2007-04-02 07OSLO320 NORWAY WILL FREEZE ANY SEPAH ASSETS
the MFA immediately took the necessary steps to freeze any Sepah investments in Norway
2007-04-19 07OSLO401 AMBASSADOR RAISES IRAN SANCTIONS ACT CONCERNS WITH STATOIL CEO
He added confidentially that Statoil is conducting a low profile, but insincere, dialogue with Iranian authorities on future projects to forestall potentially hostile actions against its current investments.
2007-05-04 07OSLO480 SEPAH ASSETS UPDATE
Sepah´s bank account in the Norwegian bank Nordea, which had a balance of approximately 28,300 USD, was immediately frozen. ... [A letter from the Iranian Central Bank] should be filed "for no further action."
2007-06-08 07OSLO614 POSITIVE MOVEMENT IN THE MISSILE DEFENSE DEBATE IN NORWAY BUT NO BREAKTHROUGH
[Secretary Rice] said that Russian complaints on U.S. missile defense plans were purely ludicrous
2007-06-18 07OSLO??? PM STOLTENBERGS RUSSIA TRIP: GRADUAL GAINS IN THE NORTH
Despite some controversial statements on missile defense and some public criticism of Russia,s human rights record, Stoltenberg,s visit was primarily characterized by some successes for Norway,s High North priorities, including resolution of a small part of Norway,s disputed sea-border
2007-07-10 07OSLO729 NORWAY: NEGATIVE IMPACT OF U.S. WEAPONS SYSTEM PROBLEMS
this may affect Norway´s hoped for $2.2 billion purchase of the Joint Strike Fighter
2008-02-12 08OSLO72 NORWAY STANDING ALONE AGAINST MISSILE DEFENSE
Defense Minister Anne-Grete Strom-Erichsen told the media that Norway doubts the need for missile defense and believes it could lead to an arms race. Responding to Ambassador Whitneys observation that it is unusual for Norway to block consensus in NATO, ...
2008-03-06 08OSLO127? NORWAY´S ENERGY PART I: ROUGH WATERS AHEAD FOR STATOILHYDRO
2008 is off to a rough beginning for the new company
2008-03-06 08OSLO128 NORWAY´S ENERGY PART II: STATOILHYDRO´S SAGA FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
Growing pains are evident ...
2008-05-17 08OSLO278 NORWAY´S CHINESE STRATEGY
xxxx, xxxx and xxxx reviewed Norway´s China policy
2008-06-03 08OSLO303 NORWAY: A POTENTIAL HAVEN FOR WAR CRIMINALS?
no Norwegian terrorist watch list exists
2008-08-01 08OSLO428 NORWAY: STATOILHYDRO AND IRAN
Following increasing USG pressure and Total´s recent public decision to pursue no Iranian South Pars energy projects, StatoilHydro chief executive Helge Lund announced his company would not pursue any new Iranian projects.
2008-09-02 08OSLO488 NORWAY WELCOMES AMBASSADOR VOLKERS VISIT WITH A PLEDGE TO FOCUS ON COOPERATION
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
2008-10-09 08OSLO549 NORWAY REBUFFS USG ON IRISL FREIGHT FORWARDER
she would look into the possibility of whether the GON could alert Lehman Group to the fact that unless it ceased business dealings with IRISL, it could be subject to punitive E.O. 13382 action by the U.S.
2008-12-16 08OSLO670 LESSON LEARNED FROM NORWEGIAN DECISION TO BUY JSF
We needed to avoid any appearance of undue pressuring (which was construed as `threatening' Norway in its sovereign decision-making process), but we couldn,t let stand the view that the choice didn,t matter for the relationship. We opted for `choosing the JSF will maximize the relationship' as our main public line. In private, we were much more forceful.
2009-02-13 09OSLO111 A WHALE OF A CABLE - WHALING IN NORWAY
Today Norwegian whaling struggles not with protestors and activists, but rather with demand for the product
2009-02-13 09OSLO114 PART II: RISING NORWEGIAN ANTI-SEMITISM AFFECTING ITS ROLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST?
Anti-Semitism in Norway, and the expression of anti-Semitic comments, has increased since the Gaza war.
2009-02-13 09OSLO115 CONSTRAINTS ON NORWAY´S MIDDLE EAST ROLE?
Norwegian public and elite opposition to most of Israel´s actions and their view that Israel does not value dialogue is widely reported.
2009-02-13 09OSLO116 PART III: NORWEGIAN FM STOERE: THE WORLD AT HIS FEET
His support for some Hamas´ positions argues for caution in dealing with him on the Middle East. ... Stoere actively pushes for continued dialogue with Russia, even doing so shortly after the Georgia war. ... Stoere has been a strong advocate of NATO´s engagement in Afghanistan but has been critical of military aspects, believing civilian aid is the key factor. ... Skeptical about the use of force, and highly valuing dialogue and disarmament, Stoere´s policies often clashed with those of the Bush Administration
2009-03-31 09OSLO216 LAVROV AND STOERE TRADE TOUGH WORDS OVER NATO, BUSINESS DISPUTE
Russia was considering offering training and small arms assistance to the Afghan police.
2009-04-27 09OSLO315 NORWEGIAN LAWYERS SUE ISRAEL FOR WAR CRIMES ABUSES
to date the Office has not taken similar cases forward, choosing for example not to prosecute a Norwegian company involved in Guantanamo several months ago ... the Israeli Ambassador formally protested Norwegian Foreign Minister Stoere´s decision to stay in the room at the UN Racism Conference in Geneva during the Iranian President´s speech.
2009-06-18 09OSLO399 NORWAYS RUSSIA POLICY: WISHFUL THINKING
The GONs strategy of public positivism and increases in international attention to the region is not satisfactory to all in Norway.
2009-07-07 09OSLO434 OSLO NEC - THE HIGH COSTS OF FREEZING THE PROJECT
The proposal to rezone the Huseby property to allow the NEC barely prevailed in the City Council in December 2005 after the Embassy convinced the GON to intervene politically. Tensions were so high that a City Councillor who switched sides to support us was later expelled from his party.
2009-08-26 09OSLO527 USNATO AMBASSADOR DAALDERS MEETING WITH NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER STOERE
regarding potential NATO exercises in Norway, Stoere cautiously espoused a "High North, low tension" viewpoint
2009-12-11 09OSLO767 Norway Uncompromising on Whale Catch Limit
Norwegians are open to discussing whaling policy on the basis of scientific principles.
2009-12-28 09OSLO788 OSLO REGIONAL GOVERNOR OFFERS SUPPORT FOR NEW AMERICAN EMBASSY PROJECT
He offered to make discreet overtures to the Oslo Planning and Building Authority if we thought he could be helpful.
2009-12-28 09OSLO791 Statoil Chief Discusses Global Investments with Ambassador
He stressed Statoils transparency with the USG with respect to past investments in Iran and reiterated the companys commitment to abstain from new investments there.
2010-01-28 10OSLO53 POST RESPONSE: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE xxxxx
xxxx confirmed to PolOff January 28 that the MFA would not object if the USG informed U.S. applicants that Reidar Ostby´s name must be removed from export licenses that list him as a foreign intermediate consignee.
2009-11-09 09OTTAWA874 Ottawa: Ambassador Jacobson and Environment Minister Prentice discuss continental carbon market and oil sands
Prentice shared that he was concerned about the media focus on the [oil] sands and the possible impact on Canada´s international reputation.
2006-01-12 06PARIS216 FRENCH CONCERNED WITH DUVALIER PASSPORT ISSUANCE
the GoF does not normally prevent foreigners from leaving the country
2006-01-12 06PORTAUPRINCE93 HAITI: PM'S RESPONSE TO DUVALIER PASSPORT ISSUANCE REQUEST
Charge suggested that the PM alert airline carriers who service Haiti to prevent Duvalier from boarding a flight to Haiti.
2006-01-17 06PORTAUPRINCE112 HAITI: FM ABRAHAM DISCUSSES DUVALIER PASSPORT ISSUANCE WITH CHARGE
urging that the passport be canceled
2008-01-30 08QUITO90 ECUADOR: CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY FOCUS UNCLEAR
Since its inauguration on November 29 in Montecristi, the Constituent Assembly has sometimes appeared more interested in legislating than in drafting a new constitution.
2006-01-17 06SANTODOMINGO171 DOMINICAN POLITICS II #14: DOMINICAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES STATE DAS FOR CARIBBEAN
said he would not allow Duvalier into the Dominican Republic.
2009-07-24 09SEOUL1169 A/S KURT CAMPBELL´S MEETING WITH SENIOR SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND NATIONAL SECURITY KIM SUNG-HWAN
according to the ROK Constitution, North Korea is part of the Republic of Korea
2010-02-22 10SEOUL272 VFM CHUN YOUNG-WOO ON SINO-NORTH KOREAN RELATIONS
China would not be able to stop North Koreas collapse following the death of Kim Jong-il
2008-01-06 08STATE1264 SECOND DEMARCHE FOR CHINA REGARDING CHINAS JANUARY 2007 ANTI-SATELLITE TEST
In these military-to-military exchanges, Chinese military officials termed the event a "scientific experiment" and dismissed as overblown concerns about the leftover debris field.
2009-05-08 09STATE46946 SRI LANKA NEGOTIATING TO PROCURE LETHAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT FROM NORTH KOREA AND IRAN
Some of these proposed arms imports appear to violate UNSCR 1718.
2009-06-22 09STATE64621 AFGHANISTAN - DOSTUM'S ROLE
Karzai may resent our efforts to keep Dostum away. We understand this risk but believe it will also send an important signal to Karzai that the rules really have changed
2009-08-26 09STATE89282 BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-LICENSE/PRE-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE xxxx
requests Post´s assistance in conducting a post-license/pre-shipment check on license xxxx for the export of firearms, components, and ammunition to Bulgaria
2009-09-17 09STATE96526 U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE POLICY AND EUROPE
significantly different from the Bush Administrations plan to deploy 10 ground-based interceptors in Poland and a BMD tracking radar in the Czech Republic.
2009-11-25 09STATE121806 BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE xxxx
requests Posts´ assistance in conducting a pre-license check for the export of rifles to Bulgaria
2010-02-01 10STATE9939 ALERTING CHINA TO POSSIBLE MISSILE-RELATED EXPORT TO IRAN
... offered to sell gyroscopes ...
2009-05-04 09STRASBOURG9 COUNCIL OF EUROPE: RANCOR IN THE RANKS
The Council of Europe´s (COE) election for its next secretary general has produced internecine warfare between resident ambassadors and the Parliamentary Assembly ... An attempt by Swiss parliamentarian Dick Marty to revisit "secret prisons" was unsuccessful.
2006-06-14 06TELAVIV2301 ALLEGED ISRAELI CORRUPTION AT KARNI IMPEDES U.S. MARKET ACCESS
... waiting three to four months to cross into Gaza. U.S. distributors assert they are being asked to pay "special fees" which amount to as much as 75 times the standard processing fee as quoted by GOI officials.
2007-07-26 07TELAVIV2281 APHSCT TOWNSEND RECEIVES ACTION PLAN ON PALESTINIANS FROM ISRAELI NSC
the current closure of Gaza border crossings is not sustainable, with several thousand Palestinians currently waiting to enter Gaza through the Rafah crossing
2008-11-03 08TELAVIV2447 CASHLESS IN GAZA?
Israeli officials have confirmed to Embassy officials on multiple occasions that they intend to keep the Gazan economy functioning at the lowest level possible consistent with avoiding a humanitarian crisis.
2008-12-04 08TELAVIV2713 GOI CALLS GAZA CASH CRISIS A HAMAS PLOY
Charge raised the NIS 250 million request with COGAT/MOD PolMil Director Amos Gilad evening of December 3. Gilad,s response was, "Theyre not getting a dime".
2006-05-31 06TOKYO2987 CO-CHAIRS APPEAL TO SRI LANKA TO PULL BACK FROM CRISIS
the history of Sri Lanka shows that war is not winnable for either side
2010-01-04 10TOKYO11 DEMARCHE RESPONSE: JAPAN TO INVESTIGATE POTENTIAL IRAN URANIUM TRANSFER
the GOJ understands that Iran will soon run out of yellowcake
2006-06-29 06TUNIS1622 CORRUPTION IN TUNISIA PART I: AN ECONOMIC SUCCESS?
Tunisians are increasingly focused on corruption -- and specifically, the disproportionate power and influence wielded by a few elites, chief among them Tunisias First Family.
2006-06-29 06TUNIS1630 CORRUPTION IN TUNISIA PART II: THE ANATOMY OF EXPLOITATION
Simple ... Bureaucratic ... Influencial ... First Family ...
2006-07-05 06TUNIS1672 CORRUPTION IN TUNISIA PART IV: THE FAMILYS HOLDINGS
the alleged corruption of Ben Alis family is increasingly becoming a political and economic force that must be addressed.
2006-07-05 06TUNIS1673 CORRUPTION IN TUNISIA PART III: POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS
Domestic frustration is growing with the rumored vast commercial holdings of Tunisias First Family: President Ben Ali, wife Leila (Trabelsi) Ben Ali and their extended clan
2007-07-09 07USNATO408 REPORT OF SENIOR RESOURCE BOARD PLENARY MEETING
The cost of a NATO Missile Defense System would be between 8 to 27 Billion Euro and thus, using exclusively the NSIP and the Military Budget, was unaffordable within current common funded ceilings.
2009-02-26 09WINDHOEK65 PRIME MINISTER CONFIRMS: NO SALE OF URANIUM TO IRAN
Angula confirmed that Namibia would abide by UNSCR 1737 and would not sell uranium to Iran.