Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07STOCKHOLM1452
2007-12-12 16:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
SWEDEN MAKING PREPARATIONS TO OPEN AN EMBASSY IN
how-toVZCZCXRO0068 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHSM #1452 3461631 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121631Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2982 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 001452
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOD FOR ISO DAS DEBRA CAGAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN MAKING PREPARATIONS TO OPEN AN EMBASSY IN
IRAQ
Classified By: Ambassador Michael Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 001452
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOD FOR ISO DAS DEBRA CAGAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN MAKING PREPARATIONS TO OPEN AN EMBASSY IN
IRAQ
Classified By: Ambassador Michael Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Foreign Minister Bildt told the Ambassador December
11 that Sweden is making preparations to open an Embassy in
Iraq, and is considering a bilateral aid mission as well. In
a separate meeting with the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff
H.G. Wessberg, the Ambassador was told the Finance Ministry
had already allocated the funds for a new embassy. Wessberg
said he is personally following up on the aid mission to Iraq
idea. MFA Middle East Deputy Director Dag Juhlin Dannfelt
will be in Baghdad the week of December 16 looking at
possible embassy sites. These will include, per Bildt,
leasing from the Iraqi government premises the U.S. will
vacate when it moves to the new compound. Bildt said Sweden
has had discussions with the French and Germans about
possibly co-locating with them. (Note: MFA Middle East
Director Peter Tejler told us earlier that Sweden decided not
to consider co-locating with the Danes because Denmark is a
member of the Coalition.)
2. (C) Bildt said that Ambassador Lars Magnuson, who handles
repatriation agreements for the Justice Ministry, was
currently in Jordan negotiating a repatriation agreement with
the Iraqis. Sweden has made such an agreement a condition
precedent to opening an Embassy in Iraq.
3. (C) When an Embassy opens, Bildt said, it will have
limited functions. Tejler told us Sweden's embassy would not
issue visas, because otherwise that is all it would do.
4. (C) Opening a bilateral aid mission requires both Foreign
Ministry and aid agency support, SIDA, the Swedish aid
agency, is formally autonomous. Embassy is following up with
SIDA to see where opening an Iraq mission fits in its 2008
priorities.
WOOD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOD FOR ISO DAS DEBRA CAGAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN MAKING PREPARATIONS TO OPEN AN EMBASSY IN
IRAQ
Classified By: Ambassador Michael Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Foreign Minister Bildt told the Ambassador December
11 that Sweden is making preparations to open an Embassy in
Iraq, and is considering a bilateral aid mission as well. In
a separate meeting with the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff
H.G. Wessberg, the Ambassador was told the Finance Ministry
had already allocated the funds for a new embassy. Wessberg
said he is personally following up on the aid mission to Iraq
idea. MFA Middle East Deputy Director Dag Juhlin Dannfelt
will be in Baghdad the week of December 16 looking at
possible embassy sites. These will include, per Bildt,
leasing from the Iraqi government premises the U.S. will
vacate when it moves to the new compound. Bildt said Sweden
has had discussions with the French and Germans about
possibly co-locating with them. (Note: MFA Middle East
Director Peter Tejler told us earlier that Sweden decided not
to consider co-locating with the Danes because Denmark is a
member of the Coalition.)
2. (C) Bildt said that Ambassador Lars Magnuson, who handles
repatriation agreements for the Justice Ministry, was
currently in Jordan negotiating a repatriation agreement with
the Iraqis. Sweden has made such an agreement a condition
precedent to opening an Embassy in Iraq.
3. (C) When an Embassy opens, Bildt said, it will have
limited functions. Tejler told us Sweden's embassy would not
issue visas, because otherwise that is all it would do.
4. (C) Opening a bilateral aid mission requires both Foreign
Ministry and aid agency support, SIDA, the Swedish aid
agency, is formally autonomous. Embassy is following up with
SIDA to see where opening an Iraq mission fits in its 2008
priorities.
WOOD