Cablegate: Iceland/Nam Summit: Iceland Attending Havana Nam

VZCZCXRO2158
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV
DE RUEHRK #0331 2561712
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 131712Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2951
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

S E C R E T REYKJAVIK 000331

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/NB, EUR/UMB, EUR/PGI, IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2011
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM UNSC CU IR BO IC
SUBJECT: ICELAND/NAM SUMMIT: ICELAND ATTENDING HAVANA NAM
TO PITCH UNSC MEMBERSHIP; WOULD DENY LUKASHENKO TRANSIT IF
ASKED

REF: A. STATE 145242
B. STATE 149133
C. EVANS-MAHER EMAILS 8-11 SEP 06

Classified By: Charge Philip S. Kosnett for reasons 1.4 (b), (d).

1. (S/NF) Summary: Iceland is attending the NAM Summit in
Havana primarily to campaign for a 2009-2010 UN Security
Council seat, and claims no interest in NAM membership or
increased engagement with the Government of Cuba. The GOI did
not receive a landing clearance request in connection with
Belarusian President Lukashenko's planned travel to the
summit, and if asked would deny such a request per
EU/Schengen policy. End summary.

2. (C) Poloff met with Thordur Bjarni Gudjonson, Acting
Political Director at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on
September 6 and again on September 11 to deliver ref A and B
points. Per Gudjonson, Iceland is attending the Sept. 11-16
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Havana as an observer,
with the primary goal of working the margins of the summit to
lobby for a seat on the UN Security Council in 2009-2010.
Gudjonson said Iceland will be represented at the NAM summit
by Amb. Sigridur Asdis Snaevarr, who is directing Iceland's
UNSC campaign.

3. (C) Gudjonson added that the GOI's participation does not
constitute an official visit to the Government of Cuba nor
reflect any interest in joining NAM. That said, Gudjonson
agreed with much of the content of reftel demarches and said
the GOI would look for chances to influence any final NAM
declarations "in a positive direction."

4. (S/NF) Poloff also asked whether Iceland had received a
landing clearance request from Belarusian President
Lukashenko, who had reportedly intended to refuel in Iceland
on his way to the NAM summit (ref C). Gudjonson said Iceland
had not, and gave assurances that any such requests would be
denied, as Iceland (a Schengen state) has joined the EU in
restricting Belarusian officials' travel. "He's on the list."
Kosnett

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