Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STOCKHOLM343
2008-05-08 09:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
Media Reaction - Inauguration of President Medvedev
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHSM #0343 1290913 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 080913Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3417
UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000343
SIPDIS
SECSTATE FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/PPD, EUR/NB, EUR/PA, EUR/FO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PINS PHUM PREF EUN SW
SUBJECT: Media Reaction - Inauguration of President Medvedev
On May 8, the conservative Stockholm morning daily "Svenska
Dagbladet" editorialized on "Putin's Russia a State in Decay:"
"The Bolshoi ballet had not been able to do a more rehearsed
performance...Everything went according to Putin's plan. After eight
years as president he can now continue to control the country as
prime minister and leader of the largest political party....
"It is easy to understand the (growing) concern in the countries
within Russia's sphere of interest. In the short run developments
are unpredictable...and in the long run they are even more obscure.
Official Sweden prefers to close its eyes to what happens, but the
truth is that we now have a neighboring country with big power
ambitions from both an economic and military point of view. A
country that is both authoritarian and frail. Re-armed, but fragile
in a crisis situation."
WOOD
SIPDIS
SECSTATE FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/PPD, EUR/NB, EUR/PA, EUR/FO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PINS PHUM PREF EUN SW
SUBJECT: Media Reaction - Inauguration of President Medvedev
On May 8, the conservative Stockholm morning daily "Svenska
Dagbladet" editorialized on "Putin's Russia a State in Decay:"
"The Bolshoi ballet had not been able to do a more rehearsed
performance...Everything went according to Putin's plan. After eight
years as president he can now continue to control the country as
prime minister and leader of the largest political party....
"It is easy to understand the (growing) concern in the countries
within Russia's sphere of interest. In the short run developments
are unpredictable...and in the long run they are even more obscure.
Official Sweden prefers to close its eyes to what happens, but the
truth is that we now have a neighboring country with big power
ambitions from both an economic and military point of view. A
country that is both authoritarian and frail. Re-armed, but fragile
in a crisis situation."
WOOD