ICELAND/NAM SUMMIT: ICELAND ATTENDING HAVANA NAM TO PITCH UNSC MEMBERSHIP; WOULD DENY LUKASHENKO TRANSIT IF ASKED

SECRET,NOFORN 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