SWEDEN PLANS TO OPEN EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000136

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN PLANS TO OPEN EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY POLCOUNS CASEY CHRISTENSEN FOR REASONS 1.4
(B) AND (D).

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

1. (c) Following the signing of a repatriation agreement with
Iraq, Sweden has agreed to open an Embassy in Baghdad. The
Embassy will not issue visas and will open after premises
have been secured, security is worked out, and communications
are assured: "likely after the Summer," End Summary.

Repatriation Agreement Opens the Way for an Embassy
-------------- --------------

2. (u) On February 18, 2008, Sweden signed an agreement with
Iraq to improve coordination and cooperation in facilitating
the return of Iraqis living in Sweden. Iraqi Foreign
Minister Hoshyar Zebari and Swedish Ambassador Niclas Trouve
(resident in Jordan) signed the accord which calls for Iraq
to welcome back Iraqis whose asylum applications have been
rejected in Sweden. Sweden still planned to send most Iraqis
back on a voluntary basis, but the agreement does allow for
Stockholm to deport Iraqis against their will.


3. (C) According to press reports, Iraqi Foreign Minister
Zebari said that Sweden planned to establish a resident
ambassador in Baghdad and planned on sending a technical team
to Iraq in late February to look at premises and begin making
arrangements. Swedish MFA Director for the Middle East Peter
Tejler told Polcouns February 20 that it would be more
accurate to speak of a "permanent presence" than a fully
functional Embassy. For example, the Embassy will not issue
visas. Tejler said Sweden is considering two buildings, both
outside the Green Zone. The Swedes will not establish there
mission, Tejler said, until they have found "Swedish
solutions" for security and communications. Sweden is
considering contracting with a European firm to provide
security, and will not request assistance from the U.S. The
new diplomatic presence is also contingent on allocation of
funding, which has not yet occurred. All told, Tejler said
he expected the new mission not to be establish until "after
the Summer."

Inducing Immigrants to Return to Iraq
--------------

4. (U) Swedish Minister for International Development
Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson announced February 15 a new
government project allowing Iraqis who leave Sweden to start
a business in Iraq to receive financing from Swedfund,
Sweden's state venture capital fund. The pilot program would
allow entrepreneurs to receive loans or shared financing. To
qualify Iraqis would have to contribute their own capitol and
take on full responsibility for the businesses involved.


5. (U) In 2007, the Swedish Migration Board reported 18,599
applications from Iraqis requesting asylum in Sweden, up from
8,950 requests in 2006. Sweden is the leading European
destination for Iraqi asylees. Sweden accepted 72 percent of
all applications in 2007. As Swedish law permits asylum
seekers to settle in the town of their choice, many
immigrants settle where they have friends or family from
Iraq. Sodertalje, Sweden, a town of 82,000 inhabitants now
boasts over 5,000 Iraqi immigrants and the infrastructure for
integration is being strained. In December 2007 Swedish
Migration Minister Tobias Billstrom announced that the
government was looking into the possibility of requiring
asylum seekers to only settle where there was housing, work
or education possibilities.
WOOD