Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STOCKHOLM135
2008-02-20 15:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:  

SWEDEN DECLARES INTENTION TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO

Tags:  PREL PGOV SW YI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2628
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHSM #0135 0511501
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 201501Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3181
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000135 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SW YI
SUBJECT: SWEDEN DECLARES INTENTION TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO

REF: A. STOCKHOLM 118


B. STOCKHOLM 84

C. STATE 12026

Classified By: Ambassador Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000135

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SW YI
SUBJECT: SWEDEN DECLARES INTENTION TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO

REF: A. STOCKHOLM 118


B. STOCKHOLM 84

C. STATE 12026

Classified By: Ambassador Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

Summary
--------------

1. (u) Both Prime Minister Reinfeldt and Foreign Minister
Bildt made statements February 18 declaring Sweden's
intention to recognize the independence of Kosovo. Because
of internal political processes, formal recognition is
expected to occur only following a special March 4 meeting of
the Foreign Affairs Council chaired by the King. Sweden thus
meets the criteria for inclusion in the Kosovo Steering Group
and expects to be invited by the Quint to the February 28
initial meeting, per ref C. End Summary.

Intention and Procedure on Recognition
--------------

2. (u) On February 18, both Prime Minister Reinfeldt and
Foreign Minister Bildt made statements to the Swedish press
declaring Sweden's intention to recognize the independence of
Kosovo. The clearest statement came from Bildt (Embassy
informal translation):

"Both Fredrik Reinfeldt and I said today that the government
will refer this to the Foreign Affairs Council with the
recommendation to recognize Kosovo's supervised independence
in the context of the continued validity of (UNSC) Resolution

1244. If nothing dramatic happens at the meeting of the
Foreign Affairs Council March 4, a more formal decision on
recognition will be possible immediately thereafter."


3. (u) This statement, which was published in Swedish on
Bildt's blog (carlbildt.wordpress.com),was complemented by
Reinfeldt's February 18 statement to Swedish news agency TT
that he was "ready to recognize Kosovo." Reinfeldt added
that recognizing Kosovo is complicated with reference to
international law; noted that state building is a long-term
process; and said it was important to discuss the
consequences in detail.


4. (c) MFA Deputy Director for the Balkans Tobias Axerup
told Polcouns February 20 that the MFA was referring
inquiries on Sweden's view on Kosovo recognition to Bildt's
blog and to the statements made to the press by Bildt and
Reinfeldt. Axerup said Sweden had assured Kosovo Contact
Group members France, Germany, and the UK -- and wanted to
convey to the U.S.-- that Sweden fully intended to recognize
Kosovo and it is just a matter of internal procedural
requirements that will make formal recognition possible only
following the March 4 meeting of the Foreign Policy Council.
(Note: The Foreign Policy Council is an advisory board
chaired by the King and including leaders from all seven
parliamentary parties. It is a constitutionally mandated
body that is convened only rarely to consider foreign policy
issues such as the recognition of new states. It was
consulted in connection with the earlier recognition of other
states that formerly made up Yugoslavia.)


5. (c) Separately, Moderate Party parliamentarian Gustav
Blix told Polcouns February 20 that he will be attending the
March 4 meeting of the Foreign Policy Council and he expected
no problem on achieving substantial consensus on the
recognition of Kosovo.


6. (c) Indeed, the only criticism we have seen from one of
the parliamentary parties regarding recognition of Kosovo
came from the leading opposition party Social Democrats --
who criticized the Government in the press for not having
immediately and summarily recognized Kosovo. Moderate
Parliamentarian Henrik von Sydow told us February 20 that if
the Government had done so, the Social Democrats would have
criticized them on the failure to hold a meeting of the
Foreign Policy Council and seek consensus.

Comment
--------------

7. (c) Sweden has declared its intention to recognize Kosovo
and we expect it to do so formally following the March 4
meeting. Sweden thus meets the criteria for inclusion in the
Kosovo Steering Group and expects to be invited by the Quint
to the February 28 initial meeting, per ref C.
WOOD