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