C O N F I D E N T I A L REYKJAVIK 000173 SIPDIS E.O. 12985: DECL: 
08/14/2018 TAGS: MOPS, PREL, PHUM, NATO, UN, GG, RS, IC SUBJECT: TFGG01:
ICELAND ON RUSSIAN ACTIVITIES IN GEORGIA REF: State 87254 Classified by
Ambassador Carol van Voorst for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 

1. (SBU) In 
discussion of the current situation in Georgia with Political Director 
Greta Gunnarsdottir, the highest available MFA official, the Ambassador 
urged August 14 that Iceland press Russia to take the necessary steps 
detailed in reftel. Gunnarsdottir will raise the message with the 
Foreign Minister asap. In response to the Ambassador's questions, 
Gunnarsdottir offered following observations: - Humanitarian aid: 
Iceland was specifically asked for and will provide "very quickly" an 
information officer to work for UNICEF in Georgia. The government is 
considering other humanitarian contributions, but has as yet reached no 
specific decisions. Ambassador detailed U.S. contributions and pressed 
for a speedy and positive decision to help meet the increasing 
humanitarian needs of the region. - NAC Meeting August 19 in Brussels: 
Foreign Minister Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir will attend, accompanied 
by Amb. Thorir Ibsen, MFA head of NATO affairs. - Icelandic-Russian 
contacts: Iceland has not approached Russia bilaterally on Georgia 
developments, preferring to deal with the subject in multilateral fora. 
Ambassador made the case for direct bilateral engagement, noting that 
Iceland does have an Embassy in Moscow and that the Russian ambassador 
in Reykjavik has made intemperate and misleading remarks to the press 
concerning Georgia's leadership and regional intentions. (Note: We 
understand that the MFA had considered but decided not to call in the 
Russian ambassador.) 

2. (C) Ambassador has requested a meeting with 
Permanent Secretary Gretar Mar Sigurdsson, Gunnarsdottir's boss, on his 
return from leave next week to raise Iceland's uninspiring stance in the
recent NAC meetings on Georgia. Although we suspect the GOI is trying 
to avoid irritating the Russians in advance of the October vote on 
Iceland's bid for a UNSC seat, we want to point out that stepping up in a
necessary cause is the type of behavior the U.S. looks for in a UNSC 
member. van Voorst