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