STATE SECRETARY BELFRAGE SAYS HE WAS MISQUOTED BY

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000316 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV IR SE SUBJECT: STATE SECRETARY BELFRAGE SAYS HE WAS MISQUOTED BY IRANIAN PRESS ¶1. (SBU) State-run Iranian press source, Press TV, ran a web article on April 23, which misquoted Swedish State Secretary Frank Belfrage during his recent visit to Tehran. In a meeting on April 25 in Stockholm, the DCM showed Belfrage the article. Excerpted text: "Belfrage has praised Iran's commitment to restore Iraq's stability and security... (and) described Tehran as the cornerstone of Iraq's progress." End excerpted text. ¶2. (SBU) Belfrage, not having heard about the article, told the DCM that he told Iranian FM Mottaki that "it was important that Iran contribute to the stability of Iraq." Furthermore, he said he did not made this comment to the Iranian press, but rather to Mottaki. Apparently Mottaki, or an aide, misquoted him to the press. We said we appreciated the clarification. WOOD