VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNY #0321/01 1631354
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 111354Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6841
INFO RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 4002
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000321 
 
SIPDIS 
 
MOSCOW PLEASE PASS TO ST PETERSBURG 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2018 
TAGS: EFIS EPET PBTS PGOV PINR PREL RCA RS SENV NO
SUBJECT: LAVROV AND STOERE TALK BUSINESS, IGNORE TOUGH 
ISSUES 
 
Classified By: Acting Deputy chief of Mission, Kristen F. Bauer, 
for reasons 1.4 b and d 
 
 ¶1. (C) In two days of meetings,  Norwegian FM Jonas Gahr 
Stoere and Russian FM Sergei Lavrov discussed an increased 
Russian presence on Svalbard, fishing enforcement, eased visa 
rules for the border area, and environmental questions. 
Meeting on June 9-10, first in Kirkenes on the Norwegian side 
of the border and then in Murmansk, the two foreign ministers 
stressed the good relations enjoyed by both nations, focused 
on economic cooperation and avoided conflict over the most 
difficult issues, agreeing to disagree on the Svalbard 
fisheries zone, ignoring increases in Russian military 
activities, and limiting discussion of environment, oil and 
gas cooperation and the maritime border to generalities. 
According to Norwegian MFA officials, FM Stoere began the 
meetings by saying that they should focus on regional Barents 
issues, and the discussion that followed did just that. 
 
----------Economic Focus---------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) FM Stoere and FM Lavrov both stressed the good 
relations between their countries and the potential for 
increased economic cooperation.  Shtokman was a subject of 
much general discussion, but no specifics resulted.  Lavrov 
characterized Norwegian-Russian cooperation on Shtockman as 
"strengthening of world, primarily European, energy 
security."  The foreign ministers opened a joint 
StatoilHydro/Russian oil protection laboratory, designed to 
improve the joint ability to respond to oil spills.  Fishing 
was another topic of discussion with Stoere praising Russia 
for improvements in fighting illegal over fishing.  Lavrov 
criticized Norwegian detentions of Russian trawlers, 
particularly around Svalbard. 
 
------- Svalbard ------------- 
 
¶3. (C) The MFA stated that Lavrov raises the issue of 
increased Russian presence on Svalbard, every time he and 
Stoere meet, and he did so again at these meetings.  He did 
not mention any specifics, such as the Russian proposal for 
an airfield at Barentsburg, something the Norwegians oppose. 
Stoere welcomed the presence of Russians but also was clear 
to stress the Norwegian position that international law gives 
Norway full sovereignty in Svalbard's waters, including its 
"fisheries zone" which is not recognized by other signatories 
to the 1920 Svalbard treaty. 
 
------ Border Issues ----------- 
 
¶4. (C) The main development of the talks was the agreement by 
FM Lavrov to consider a visa free travel arrangement for 
residents of the area living within 30 kilometers of the 
border.  MFA officials said that Lavrov was unusually 
forthcoming and pragmatic on this issue and even stated that 
the Russian 15 kilometer border regime will be adjusted on 
the Norwegian border area to relax some of the new 
restrictions imposed by the FSB.  Six of the border cities 
near Norway will be exempted from the border regime, thus 
easing the bureaucratic hurdles for increased economic 
activity.  The FMs formally exchanged ratification documents 
for the agreement reached last year on the Varangerfjord 
segment of the disputed maritime border.  Stoere remained 
publicly optimistic that an agreement on the rest could be 
reached before the planned start of production of Shtockman 
in 2013.  Privately, MFA officials simply stated that there 
is no timetable for resolution of the border and no follow up 
meeting is scheduled. 
 
-------Environment------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Norway has had a long interest in environmental 
cleanup of the Kola peninsula and the GON has donated 
millions of Norwegian kroner to this effort, to dismantle 
Russian submarines, remove radioactive lighthouse batteries, 
increase safety in nuclear reactors in the area, and help 
Norilsk Nikel clean up its factories.  In the days leading up 
to the FMs' meeting the Norwegian environmental community was 
very critical of GON efforts in getting results.  Media 
reports claimed that the donated money to Norilsk Nikel was 
not used for environment, but went right into the pockets of 
the oligarchs controlling the company.  Stoere raised this 
issue with Lavrov who publicly stated that "Russia, together 
with Norway, stands for the highest ecological standards." 
Privately he told the Norwegians that the specific issue with 
Norilsk Nikel is a company responsibility. 
 
--------International Issues--------- 
 
 
¶6.  (C) International issues did not feature prominently in 
the two foreign ministers' discussions but were discussed 
during a dinner in Murmansk.  Issues covered included the 
Caucasus, NATO enlargement and Ukraine.  The MFA promised a 
more detailed report once they receive the summary from the 
Norwegian Ambassador in Moscow. 
 
-------Media Reaction------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Media reaction to the meetings has been very quiet. 
In a commentary before the meeting, one leading essayist 
stated that although it is an honor for Lavrov to devote two 
days of his busy schedule to meet with Stoere it is not clear 
what the GON has achieved with its focus on the Barents 
region.  The essayist claimed that Lavrov is willing to meet 
Stoere in order to use this moment, when Norway has less 
tight contact with the U.S. than previously and remains 
outside the EU, to press for Russian interests in Svalbard 
and on the maritime border.  Other critical coverage included 
the issue of the GON's ineffective environmental policies in 
the Kola region and some criticism in Northern Norwegian 
newspapers over the lack of results from the GON's focus on 
the High North, pointing out that North Norway has seen 
little result from much rhetorical focus on the region.  One 
specific complaint mentioned was that 80 percent of Norwegian 
research on Barents issues takes place in southern Norway. 
WHITNEY