VZCZCXYZ0023
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNY #0426 0941408
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 041408Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3735
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0152
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0011
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000426 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2016 
TAGS: MARR PREL MCAP MOPS UN SU NO KPKO
SUBJECT: NORWAY READY TO SEND BOOTS TO DARFUR UNPKO 
 
REF: SECSTATE 51778 
 
Classified By: P/E Counselor Mike Hammer, reason 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) We delivered reftel to MOD Operations Planning Chief 
Brigadier General Roar Sundseth and MFA DAS for Global 
Security Policy Siren Eriksen on April 3-4.  Sundseth told us 
that Norway is prepared, when asked by the UN, to send one 
company (150 to 200 personnel) to support a blue helmet 
operation in Darfur.  Sundseth said that Norway envisaged 
that these Norwegian Troops could be tailored to fulfill one 
of three types of mission:  a quick reaction force, section 
commander protection, or a mine clearing unit.  (Note. 
Sundseth cautioned, that if Norway would fulfill a mine 
clearing function, the number of troops would be smaller. 
End Note.)  Sundseth indicated that this was as much as 
Norway could do militarily without drawing down its current 
commitments in Afghanistan.  However, Sundseth said that, as 
with all UN Peace Keeping Operations (UNPKO), Norway believes 
that a commitment in Darfur will be long-term, and Norway is 
prepared to stay the course. 
 
¶2.  (C) Sundseth hoped that any Norwegian deployment would 
come as late in the year as possible to limit the strain on 
the 2006 budget, but that, despite budget concerns, Norway 
would be prepared to step up when needed.  The MOD is 
weighing whether to request that the Norwegian Parliament 
pass a supplemental budget to support Norway's military 
contribution to Sudan. 
 
¶3.  (C) MFA DAS Eriksen confirmed that there is across the 
board support in the Norwegian government to support a UNPKO 
in Darfur, and that Norway would be prepared to contribute 
militarily when approached by the UN.  Eriksen noted that 
Norway has been in close touch with the UN Department of 
Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO), which was well aware of 
Norwegian intentions to contribute.  When asked if Norway had 
additional non-military resources to support a Darfur PKO, 
she said Norway would also consider contributing a small 
number of civilian police, if this was requested by the UN. 
 
¶4.  (C) On the heels of UN Special Envoy Jan Egeland's 
difficulties in traveling to Darfur this week, Eriksen said 
that Norway's main concern is whether the Government of Sudan 
will accept a UN presence in Darfur at all.  It is hard to 
imagine any circumstances where a UNPKO could be introduced 
into Darfur against the wishes of the Sudanese government. 
She also wondered whether we had insights into Sudanese 
attitudes towards NATO, and whether these were different from 
Sudanese attitudes towards the UN, or if the Sudanese 
government had a general aversion to having Western troops on 
the ground. 
 
¶5.  (C) Comment:  Sundseth's comments that Norway could not 
send more than a company of soldiers to Sudan without 
negatively affecting Norwegian deployments elsewhere 
accurately reflects the limitations faced by Norway's small 
army.  Also, Sudan (including Darfur) is already one of the 
largest recipients of Norwegian aid.  If there are specific 
ways in which the UN can capitalize on Norway's willingness 
to contribute in Darfur, like civilian police, it may be 
worth the UN asking.  Otherwise, we believe that there is 
very little scope for Norway to do more than it is already 
offering to do. 
 
 
Visit Oslo's Classified website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/oslo/index.cf m 
 
WHITNEY