VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUCNDT #0792 2471417
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 031417Z SEP 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4892
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHII/VIENNA IAEA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO IMMEDIATE 0853
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000792
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM IR UNSC MNUC ETTC KNNP
SUBJECT: UN/IRAN SANCTIONS: NORWAY BRIEFING TO THE 1737
COMMITTEE
REF: A. STATE 084938
B. OSLO 483
1. (SBU) On September 2, USUN discussed with the Norwegian
UN mission a possible briefing to the 1737 (Iran) Sanctions
Committee about Norway's planned nuclear safety project at
the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (ref A). USUN explained to
Jonas Jolle, Counselor for Political Affairs, that a
Norwegian briefing to the Committee would set a positive
example of transparency and encourage other states to inform
the Committee of all activities relevant to the
implementation of UNSCRs 1737, 1747 and 1803.
2. (SBU) Noting that he had been informed of Embassy Oslo's
recent outreach to the MFA on this matter (ref B), Jolle
asserted that Norway was "extremely interested" in being
transparent and agreed in principle with idea of a briefing.
He said he was concerned, however, that the briefing be
conducted in a proper format. USUN noted that there is some
leeway on the question of format, as there is no set
precedent for this kind of briefing to the 1737 Committee.
3. (SBU) USUN and the Norwegian mission discussed the
following parameters for such a briefing:
-- Held first or second week in early October (at the same
meeting at which the United States intends to provide a
briefing on dual-use goods);
-- A small team from Oslo would travel to New York to provide
the briefing and be available to answer questions from
Committee members;
-- The Oslo experts would describe to the Committee the
project and explain in detail the measures Norway will
undertake to ensure all training activities comply with
UNSCRs 1737, 1747 and 1803;
-- A technical handout would be distributed to the Committee
for members to forward to capitals for further review;
-- USUN would encourage other Committee members to laud
Norway's efforts and encourage other states to follow Oslo's
good example;
-- Norway would leave open the possibility of future
briefings to Committee as the project moves forward.
4. (SBU) The Norwegian mission plans to take this concept
back to Oslo for final approval. USUN will provide any
technical assistance necessary to help the mission formally
request the meeting and follow Committee procedures.
Khalilzad