Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STOCKHOLM391
2008-06-02 06:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:  

Media Reaction - Stockholm ICI Conference

Tags:  OPRC KMDR KPAO PINS PHUM PREF EUN SW 
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VZCZCXYZ0004
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSM #0391 1540645
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 020645Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3471
UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000391

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 - Stockholm ICI Conference



I. On May 30, the independent liberal Stockholm morning daily
"Dagens Nyheter" editorialized on "A More Open U.S.":

"Sweden received some American praise at the major Iraq conference
in Stockholm, primarily for its refugee policy....

"But Sweden's efforts were not on the agenda.
'The work is not finished, and the international community must
assist Iraq on its way forward,' U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice pointed out....

"Her statement illustrates the fact that today there is an
understanding in the Bush administration that did not exist five
years ago. Then, 'the international community' was just an annoying
detail that could be ignored....

"A superpower always has the option to take unilateral action in a
way that other states do not. This is an option which any American
President has, and which will be used if needed. However, the tone,
the direction, and the willingness to cooperate likely will be
different when a new President moves into the White House. And this
would be a major step away from the world which George W. Bush felt
he was leading."

II. On May 30, the conservative Stockholm morning daily "Svenska
Dagbladet" lead editorial by foreign affairs editor Claes Arvidsson
carried the headline "We Can Help but not Do the Job."

"As is customary at international conferences, there was much talk
at the ICI conference...but no meeting between the U.S. and the
Iranian foreign ministers. But sooner or later contacts must be
moved up to that level. Regardless how much one would like to, it is
not possible to disregard Iran....

"But, if nothing else, the ICI is a demonstration of the
international engagement concerning Iraq, although it remains to be
seen how much support will materialize, and it would not be at all
wrong if the U.S. received more refugees.

"But when talking about lack of engagement, such can be found in the
Arab states - Iraq's neighbors. It is about writing off debts but
also about matters where the only cost is demonstrating political
courage....

"Their half-hearted contacts and cooperation with Iraq...only is a
reflection of their fear to be singled out as players on the U.S.
team."
WOOD