SWEDEN ON DECEMBER 10-11 EU FOREIGN MINISTERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 001439 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV SW EU SUBJECT: SWEDEN ON DECEMBER 10-11 EU FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING (GAERC) REF: A. STATE 164327 ¶B. STATE 163945 Classified By: Polcouns Casey Christensen for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) On December 7, Poloff met with MFA Deputy European Corespondent Niclas Kvarnstrom regarding December 10 EU Foreign Ministers GAERC meeting (reftel A). Kvarnstrom noted the following: --EU Enlargement and the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). Sweden is one of the greatest supporters of EU expansion and constructive ENP engagement, and Sweden has been an advocate of keeping the door open for Turkey. --Kosovo. Foreign Minister Bildt is still developing his views on Kosovo and would prefer for the UNSC to determine Kosovo's final status early next year. --Iran. Sweden continues to have the same concerns about Iran's nuclear non-compliance and would like to see united international pressure maintained via the UNSC. --Sudan. Sweden agrees with our talking points and is increasingly concerned with the unconstructive actions of Sudanese President Bashir. --Lebanon. Poloff delivered demarche (reftel B) and there was no substantive response. END SUMMARY. EU ENLARGEMENT AND ENP -------------- ¶2. (C) Kvarnstrom said that Sweden is the biggest advocate of EU enlargement and an important supporter of strengthening the ENP. He noted that Sweden fought to incorporate the word "accession" into the upcoming council conclusions on enlargement and seeks to ensure that the EU upholds its commitments to potential members. On the ENP, Sweden thinks progress has been slow recently and supports implementing a performance-based approach that rewards reform. Sweden would also like to work on mobility issues, including visa liberalization. Sweden has long supported keeping the door open for Turkey. KOSOVO -------------- ¶3. (C) On Kosovo, Kvarnstrom prefaced his statement by noting that Foreign Minister Bildt, "is still developing his thoughts on this issue." He went on to explain that Sweden sees Kosovo as a problem that the EU must solve. However, Kvarnstrom said Sweden would prefer to see a final decision made by the UNSC, preferably after Serbian elections early next year. Sweden believes that this will give the EU the proper time to address the regional implications and will also give EU activity in Kosovo a solid, legal backing. Kvarnstrom noted how divisive this issue is within the EU and described Sweden as trying to act as a unifier. IRAN -------------- ¶4. (C) Kvarnstrom said that Sweden still has serious concerns about Iran's nuclear non-compliance and lack of cooperation with the IAEA and with Solana. He said Sweden wants to see the international community, through the UNSC, maintain pressure on Iran. (COMMENT: Sweden has not supported EU autonomous sanctions in the past.) SUDAN AND CHAD -------------- ¶5. (C) Kvarnstrom said that Sweden is becoming increasingly irritated with President Bashir who, in Sweden's opinion, has been saying all of the wrong things recently. Kvarnstrom also lamented the slower than expected deployment of EU forces to Chad and the increasing violence in the area where they are to be deployed. WOOD