From: <a href="http://www.aftenposten.no/spesial/wikileaksdokumenter/article3985109.ece">Aftenposten</a><br>
Date: 11.12.2009
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2009-12-11 06:46 

UNCLAS OSLO 000767 
STATE FOR OES/OPA - LPHELPS 
COMMERCE FOR IWC COMMISSIONER MONA MEDINA 
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV, PREL, IWC-1, EFIS, NO 
SUBJECT: Norway Uncompromising on Whale Catch Limit 
REF: (A) STATE 125350 
(B) 12/09/09 Selinger/Heg Email 
(C) OSLO 111 
(D) Oslo 381 
(U) This document is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect 
accordingly. 

1. (SBU) Summary: In response to Ambassador's demarche on Norway's 
increase in whale catch limits, FM Store on December 10 vigorously 
defended GON policy as based on scientific principles for the 
management of marine resources. While noting that Norway had not 
participated in the International Whaling Commission (IWC) reform 
discussions, he did thank the United States for trying to broker a 
way out of the IWC's current deadlock and said the Norwegians are 
open to discussing whaling policy on the basis of scientific 
principles. A Fisheries and Coastal Affairs Ministry official made 
similar arguments in a meeting with Poleconoff. End Summary. 

2. (U) As requested refs A and B, the Ambassador raised Norway's 
increased whaling catch limit with FM Store at the end of the 
latter's December 10 meeting with visiting Secretary Chu (septel), 
during the POTUS visit to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. The 
Ambassador urged the GON to show flexibility on catch limits to 
enable a compromise reform of the International Whaling Commission 
(IWC). He also urged the GON to engage with U.S. whaling officials 
on this issue. 

3. (SBU) FM Store delivered an impassioned defense of Norwegian 
policy, stressing that the prospective limits on the minke whale 
catch will be well within scientific limits. Pointing out that 
Norway's sea territory is six times larger than its land mass, the 
FM emphasized the importance of sound management of living marine 
resources. While the whaling industry is not large in an economic 
sense, the principle of scientific management of sea resources as a 
whole is critically important to Norway. Minke whales are not an 
endangered species and they impact other, more significant marine 
resources, such as cod stocks. Store maintained that similar 
principles are at stake in Norway's trade dispute with the European 
Union over seal hunting. 

4. (SBU) Store underlined that Norway had not engaged with the 
International Whaling Commission (IWC) Support Group, though he said 
he appreciates U.S. efforts to end the current deadlock between pro- 
and anti-whaling members. The FM told the Ambassador and Secretary 
Chu that the GON is willing to talk about these issues, provided key 
scientific principles are respected. 

5. (U) On December 9, Poleconoff and Political Specialist met Ole 
David Stenseth, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Fisheries and Costal 
Affairs, to deliver ref (A) demarche expressing disappointment with 
Norway's recent increase in its catch quota for minke whales and 
urging the GON to agree to a reduction in order to enable a 
compromise reform of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). 
Poleconoff emphasized the importance of this issue to Washington, 
noting that Post was instructed to deliver these points in advance 
of the POTUS visit. He also encouraged the GON to participate in 
the next meeting of the Support Group to the IWC in Hawaii in 
January. 

6. (SBU) Stenseth asserted that Norway was following the IWC 
Scientific Committee's management principles for ensuring 
sustainability and that Norwegian whalers were harvesting a 
sustainable catch. He emphasized that Norway was using the same 
method of fixing catch quotas as it had in the past. While the 
Ministry supports the goal of normalizing the IWC, it would require 
a political mandate before it could engage in substantive 
discussions about a change in policy. 

WHITE 
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