TFGG01: Swedish media coverage of Georgia crisis; Embassy

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000574 SIPDIS SECSTATE FOR EUR/FO, INR/R/MR, EUR/PPD, EUR/NB, EUR/PA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PINS PHUM PREF EUN SW SUBJECT: TFGG01: Swedish media coverage of Georgia crisis; Embassy media outreach Summary: Swedish media have given extensive coverage to the crisis in Georgia. Headlines and editorials emphasize Russian culpability. In an interview with number two daily Svenska Dagbladet, Embassy Charge stressed the need to defend Georgia's territorial integrity and noted that Russia's relations with the U.S. and the west in general have suffered a major setback. Events have caused a rash of commentary on Sweden's own defense policy, mostly to the effect that perhaps Sweden has been too hasty to reduce its military forces and adapt a lower level of military preparedness. End Summary ¶1. Over the weekend and Monday, August 16-18, Swedish media reported extensively on the crisis in Georgia, with correspondent reports from the region, analytical articles and editorials. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Tbilisi, during which a six-point peace agreement was signed, received extensive coverage, including a large picture of Secretary Rice walking with President Saakashvili. All media also reported that the U.S. and EU are putting pressure on Russia to honor the peace agreement, expecting Russia to pull out of Georgia immediately. Media also reported on German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to Tbilisi, and leading daily Dagens Nyheter focused on the Chancellor's change of heart concerning Georgia's application for NATO membership. ¶2. On August 18, center right daily Svenska Dagbladet published an extensive interview with Embassy Stockholm Charge d'Affaires Robert Silverman. CDA emphasized the pre-planned nature of Russian aggression, noted the importance of preserving Georgia's territorial integrity and said that relations between the U.S. and Russia are under review, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora. He also rebutted Russian attempts to link the conflict in Georgia with Kosovo and NATO expansion. Charge made similar points in a conversation with the lead editorialist for Sydsvenskan, the major paper in southern Sweden. Post is now pursuing placement of the generic op-ed provided by EUR and is seeking interviews with Swedish Radio and other outlets. ¶3. Dagens Nyheter on Sunday featured a two-page spread article, with graphics, outlining Russia's troubled relations with its neighbors. The story suggested that Georgia is merely the beginning, expecting Ukraine to be next in line, should Russia decided to continue flexing its muscles in the former Soviet space. DN also reported that the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Council will meet August 18 to discuss Sweden's relations with Russia. ¶4. In an analysis, Svenska Dagbladet considered the impact the war in Georgia will have on old Swedish defense and security doctrines, writing that the governments in the Western Europe and the U.S. are operating under the belief that all are to benefit from integration. Russia, on the other hand is increasing viewing security as a zero-sum game where security for one is gained at the expense of others. ¶5. Selected commentary: August 17, Dagens Nyheter, signed editorial by political editor Niklas Ekdal headlined "Back to the 20th century": The Georgian crisis is the world's most dangerous crisis in 17 years...The arguments that Russia used to justify the military operations would, in case of a Baltic crisis, be equally fit in Estonia and Latvia where, in total, one million ethnic Russians live.... The U.S. should not have encouraged military solutions to domestic Georgian problem...but it is not a small and poor democratic mountain country that gives the world cold shivers but rather a nuclear armed big autocratic power with colonial reflexes. The rulers in the Kremlin do not like democracies. They do not like neighboring states that want an open society because the path is leading to the West. And they have the power to crack down on troublemakers. If it will not be enough to close oil valves, tanks will be sent. August 17, conservative Stockholm morning daily Svenska Dagbladet, editorial by Claes Arvidsson headlined "Don't Let the Dark Side Win": A propaganda war is at hand over who were the worst hoodlums of the war including allegations and counter allegations about cruelties and outrage. But this must not stop us from reacting, and do it right. Spell it out, back up Georgian democracy and powerfully demonstrate to Russia what we think. August 17, South Sweden's major liberal daily, Malmo-based "Sydsvenskan" ran an article by columnist Per T. Ohlsson. It was headlined "Russian Signals," and said: Georgia 2008 is not Czechoslovakia 1938 or 1968. But it is obvious that Russia picked Georgia to be a warning to others: This is our back yard. It is our turf. It does not matter if people in this region want to turn westward and develop their economies and political systems in a more liberal direction. There is only one country that counts: Russia.... Today the Caucasus are on the line. Tomorrow it may be the Baltic Sea. SvD on Sunday featured an op-ed written by Defense Minister Sten Tolgfors writing about what the war in Georgia will mean for the Swedish defense. Under the headline "Sweden's defense must become quicker" he wrote: ¶6. Comment: Post will continue outreach efforts to Swedish media. The major dailies rely on correspondents in Moscow, Tbilisi and Washington for the bulk of their reports, but as the successful interview with Svenska Dagbladet shows, they remain open to well-informed and quotable interventions from the Embassy. SILVERMAN