C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000458 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2018
TAGS: MOPS, PREL, PHUM, OSCE, GG, NO SUBJECT: NORWAY ON RUSSIAN 
PRESENSE IN GORI REF: STATE 87254 Classified By: Charge de Affairs, 
Kevin M. Johnson for reasons 1.4 b and d 

1. (C) On August 14 Charge 
delivered reftel points to Norwegian MFA political director Vegard 
Ellefsen and urged the GON to contact the Russian government to express 
concerns. Ellefsen agreed with the substance of the points but said that
the political leadership of the MFA would have to decide when and if to
contact the Russians again. Ellefsen noted the public comments made by 
FM Stoere which were quite critical of Russian behavour. Ellefsen also 
noted the Russian Ambassador's criticism of the GON's comments on the 
situation in Georgia. Norway's position is clear, he said. 

2. (U) FM 
Stoere made extensive comments on the situation in Georgia in the media 
on August 13. He said that it will require a tremendous political effort
to renew trust and strong cooperation between NATO and Russia following
the Georgia conflict. Stoere criticised Georgia for starting the 
conflict with an attack on rebel positions in South Ossetia. Stoere's 
harshest criticism was for Russia, saying that the Russian incursion 
into Georgian territory is a violation of international law. Stoere did 
modify this criticism slightly by saying that Norway's relations with 
Russia are quite different and based on good and constructive bilateral 
relations. JOHNSON