C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000452 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2018
TAGS: PREL, MARR, NATO, EUN, RU, GG, NO SUBJECT: NORWAY ON NAC 
STATEMENT ON GEORGIA REF: STATE 85678 Classified By: Charge de Affairs 
Kevin M Johnson for reasons 1.4 b and d 

1. (C) Noting statements from 
Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and FM Jonas Gahr Stoere over 
the weekend, MFA North American Coordinator Morten Aaslund expressed 
support for a NAC statement on Russian actions in Georgia but was 
noncommittal on language. In comments to the press on August 9 and 10th 
Stoltenberg urged both parties to show restraint and supported the OSCE 
efforts to resolve the conflict. In his comments on August 10 Stoere 
said the fighting was a threat to Georgian territorial integrity and 
stability in the region. 

2. (C) Charge spoke with Deputy Foreign 
Minister Raymond Johansen and Deputy Defense Minister Espen Barth Eide 
urging adoption of a NAC statement. DFM Johansen said that the GON's 
stance seemed similar but was also non-committal on what language the 
GON would support. Johansen promised to discuss the U.S. points with his
staff and would advise us of any major differences from the U.S. 
proposed points. Johansen stated that he was in principle in agreement 
with the importance of a NAC statement. Barth Eide was also 
non-committal on the wording but expressed agreement in principle with 
the importance of a NAC statement. JOHNSON