SWEDEN: DEMARCHE FOR JUNE 18-19 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000736

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN KPAL ETRD SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN: DEMARCHE FOR JUNE 18-19 GAERC

REF: STATE 80034

Classified By: Political Counselor Casey Christensen, reason 1.4 (B) &
(D)


1. (C) On June 13 Poloff met with Niclas Kvarnstrom, MFA
Deputy European Correspondent, and conveyed USG positions on
select topics in advance of the June 18-19 GAERC.
Kvarnstrom's substantive responses follow.


2. (C) Cuba. Sweden opposes Spain's initiative to eliminate
the EU's restrictive measures. "Foreign Minister Bildt,"
said Kvarnstrom, "has little patience for these types of
discussions." Kvarnstrom underscored that the diplomatic row
between Sweden and Cuba at the UNHRC this past March is still
a recent memory in Stockholm. "Bildt is in a combative mood"
on Cuba, Kvarnstrom said before adding that Sweden has yet to
observe significant progress on the human rights front, and
thus will oppose any changes to the restrictive measures.


3. (SBU) European Neighborhood Policy. Sweden wants to
increase the proportion of EU assistance to ENP countries
linked to performance-based criteria (i.e. on democratic
promotion and reform).


4. (C) Western Balkans. On Kosovo, Sweden agrees on the
need for U.S. and EU unity in support of the Ahtisaari
proposal. Sweden believes some form of independence for
Kosovo is inevitable. Stockholm underscores the need for a
new UNSCR on Kosovo, and notes that the ESDP mission to
Kosovo will require a UN mandate. Kvarnstrom said Stockholm
believes Serbia will not agree to any UNSCR granting
independence to Kosovo, which "leaves the ball squarely in
Russia's court." He said the current EU focus is to obtain
some type of solution that Russia can accept. Both Sweden
and the EU, he said, view continued close U.S. engagement
with Russia as critical. On Bosnia, Kvarnstrom said Bildt
plans to meet with High Representative Lacjak on the margins
of the June 21 EU Council Meeting.


5. (SBU) Middle East Peace Process. EU Commissioner
Ferrero-Waldner will brief ministers at the GAERC on the
situation in the Middle East. Kvarnstrom saw nothing
contentious in the U.S. position. He stressed the need for a
return to a more normalized aid flow. The spiraling violence
between Fatah and Hamas will no doubt figure in the upcoming
GAERC discussions on the Middle East.


6. (C) Sudan. Kvarnstrom said France will brief ministers
at the GAERC on Foreign Minister Kouchner's recent trip to
Chad. He expected ministers would consider France's
suggestion for the possible creation of a humanitarian
corridor from Chad to Darfur. Kvarnstrom said ministers may
also discuss the possible creation of an ESDP force (wholly
separate from AU) for intervention in Darfur. He believed
this idea resulted from Kouchner's visit to Chad.


7. (C) Kvarnstrom said GAERC ministers will also discuss:

-- Libya and the Bulgarian nurses.

-- Italy's proposal for an international death penalty
moratorium. Italy reportedly wants to bring this to the
UNGA; Sweden favors a moratorium, but believes Italy should
hold off bringing it to the UN until it secures enough votes
to assure passage.

-- Malta's initiative to hold minister-level discussions with
the Arab League. Sweden is open to the idea, but is unlikely
to support something that replicates the Barcelona Process.

WOOD