Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STOCKHOLM240
2008-03-27 15:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:  

DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON BELARUS: SWEDEN SUPPORTS

Tags:  BO EU PHUM PREL SW 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0133
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSM #0240 0871544
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 271544Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3306
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000240 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR FOR NB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2018
TAGS: BO EU PHUM PREL SW
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON BELARUS: SWEDEN SUPPORTS
EU-U.S. UNITY, BUT WANTS TO ENGAGE BELARUS

REF: STATE 30007

Classified By: Polcouns Casey Christensen for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000240

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR FOR NB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2018
TAGS: BO EU PHUM PREL SW
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON BELARUS: SWEDEN SUPPORTS
EU-U.S. UNITY, BUT WANTS TO ENGAGE BELARUS

REF: STATE 30007

Classified By: Polcouns Casey Christensen for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) On March 27 poloff delivered reftel demarche on EU
support for the U.S. to the current to Balkan and Caucuses
Desk Officer Anna Hamarlund Blixt. She said Sweden is in
line with the USG that political prisoners, including
Kazulin, should be released unconditionally and permanently.
Sweden shares the USG's belief that US-EU must present a
unified front towards Belarus, Blixt said, citing last week's
EU Heads of Mission demarche to the Belarussian Foreign
Minister, which expressed solidarity with the U.S. Sweden
advocates limited engagement with the Belarussian Government
and seeks to steer the EU Commission dialogue away from its
focus on sanctions and isolation.


2. (C) Sweden is one of the largest donors to Belarus and is
seeking to increase its aid. Unlike the EU Commission,
according to Blixt, the Government of Sweden targets all
levels and sectors of the country. Sweden's approach entails
bilateral cooperation with the current government at the vice
and local ministerial levels, as well as with civil society
and opposition groups. Due to this approach the Belarussian
Government has, according to Blixt, given Sweden broader
access to the country and the ability to expose a large
number of potential "agents of change" to Western democratic
values. Sweden advocates limited engagement with the
Belarussian Government and seeks to steer the EU Commission
dialogue away from its focus on sanctions and isolation.
WOOD