Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STOCKHOLM576
2008-08-19 16:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
TFGG01: SWEDEN PUSHES EU OBSERVERS TO GEORGIA
how-toVZCZCXRO4070 OO RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV DE RUEHSM #0576 2321620 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 191620Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3688 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE IMMEDIATE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0591 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000576
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV RU GG SE
SUBJECT: TFGG01: SWEDEN PUSHES EU OBSERVERS TO GEORGIA
REF: STOCKHOLM 571
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED--PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
Poloff spoke with Johan Frisell, Head of the East European
Section at the MFA. Frisell stated the following:
-- The EU's Political Security Committee has agreed to
Sweden's proposal to re-hat the EU Border Support Team,
currently in Georgia, as general observers (reftel). The
Support Team is made up of officials from six member
countries and is led by a Swede. (Note: The Council
Secretariat will decide if the Team's mandate needs to be
formally rephrased. If it does, then the EU Council must
take the decision on re-hating. End note.)
--Frisell expects the Border Support Team agreement to be
finalized in the next few days, and 30-40 EU monitors to be
on the ground within 10-14 days.
-- Sweden remains concerned over the influence Russia has on
observers launched from organizations in which it has
membership, including the UN and OSCE.
-- At the FM meeting in Brussels on August 17, FM Bildt asked
for an immediate discussion on the conflict's implications
for EU-Russian relations. The majority, led by France,
argued that it was not the right time to open such a
discussion and they should wait for the informal meeting on
September 5 in Avignon. Frisell reiterated to poloff
Sweden's view that the EU Council's Conclusions on
Georgia-Russia were watered-down.
-- Bildt and State Secretary Belfrage will be in Helsinki on
August 20 for a previously scheduled visit. They plan to
focus discussions on the Georgia-Russia conflict and perhaps
Kosovo.
SILVERMAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV RU GG SE
SUBJECT: TFGG01: SWEDEN PUSHES EU OBSERVERS TO GEORGIA
REF: STOCKHOLM 571
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED--PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
Poloff spoke with Johan Frisell, Head of the East European
Section at the MFA. Frisell stated the following:
-- The EU's Political Security Committee has agreed to
Sweden's proposal to re-hat the EU Border Support Team,
currently in Georgia, as general observers (reftel). The
Support Team is made up of officials from six member
countries and is led by a Swede. (Note: The Council
Secretariat will decide if the Team's mandate needs to be
formally rephrased. If it does, then the EU Council must
take the decision on re-hating. End note.)
--Frisell expects the Border Support Team agreement to be
finalized in the next few days, and 30-40 EU monitors to be
on the ground within 10-14 days.
-- Sweden remains concerned over the influence Russia has on
observers launched from organizations in which it has
membership, including the UN and OSCE.
-- At the FM meeting in Brussels on August 17, FM Bildt asked
for an immediate discussion on the conflict's implications
for EU-Russian relations. The majority, led by France,
argued that it was not the right time to open such a
discussion and they should wait for the informal meeting on
September 5 in Avignon. Frisell reiterated to poloff
Sweden's view that the EU Council's Conclusions on
Georgia-Russia were watered-down.
-- Bildt and State Secretary Belfrage will be in Helsinki on
August 20 for a previously scheduled visit. They plan to
focus discussions on the Georgia-Russia conflict and perhaps
Kosovo.
SILVERMAN