Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STOCKHOLM587
2008-08-22 15:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:  

TTFGG01: SWEDISH POLITICAL DIRECTOR ON GEORGIA

Tags:  PGOV MARR PREL RU GG SW 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6793
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHSM #0587/01 2351522
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 221522Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3701
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000587 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV MARR PREL RU GG SW
SUBJECT: TTFGG01: SWEDISH POLITICAL DIRECTOR ON GEORGIA

REF: A. STATE 89769

B. STOCKHOLM 586

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Robert Silverman for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000587

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV MARR PREL RU GG SW
SUBJECT: TTFGG01: SWEDISH POLITICAL DIRECTOR ON GEORGIA

REF: A. STATE 89769

B. STOCKHOLM 586

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Robert Silverman for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Sweden fully supports the US positions on
Georgia, both measures to support the Georgian government and
people (see ref b on their military observers and
humanitarian aid to date),and measures to review relations
with Russia. On the latter, MFA political director Lyrvall
outlined possible steps that Sweden is considering in its
current role (until November 2008) as chairman of the Council
of Europe. Sweden wants our guidance on next steps for a
donors conference for Georgia, see action request paragraph

6. End Summary.

2.(C) On August 21, Charge and POL Counselor raised reftel
talking points with Bjorn Lyrvall, Director General for
Political Affairs in the Swedish MFA. Lyrvall, who had just
come from a meeting with FM Carl Bildt, stated that Sweden
was in full agreement with the U.S. position and shared our
concern that Russian troops were not withdrawing from
Georgian territory despite repeated promises. He said Sweden
would continue to call publicly for an immediate Russian
withdrawal and full respect for the territorial integrity of
Georgia. He added that the MFA was currently considering
plans for long-term economic support of Georgia, including
through possible use of a "Phoenix Fund." Lyrvall stated
that Bildt and German President Angel Merkel would discuss
Germany's proposed plan for a donors meeting for Georgia when
she visits on Monday, August 25.

3.(C) Lyrvall expressed concern that neither the new French
nor Russian UNSC draft resolutions offer details about the
"international mechanism," without which Moscow will say
Russian troops have the right to stay where they are.
Lyrvall added that he has continued to call Paris to ask for
details on implementation. Lacking such, Sweden is urging
Paris to convene an European Council extraordinary meeting,
perhaps with Saakashvili joining, per Lyrvall. (In a
follow-on meeting August 22 with Charge, Swedish State
Secretary Nicola Clase had a somewhat different take: Sweden
would only want a European Council meeting after careful
preparations to ensure unity, and thus to take place after
the early September informal EU FM "Gymnich" meeting in
Avignon France.)

4.(C) We raised with Lyrvall the possibility of the EU
suspending work on its draft Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement with Russia, noting that requiring Russia to first
join the WTO would be in line with international trade
liberalization practices. Both Lyrvall and Clase told us
that Sweden would support suspending negotiations on this
agreement, but others in the EU probably won't. Lyrvall
noted "thinking in the EU" that the current leadership in
Moscow may simply not care enough about the deal to be
swayed. On the other hand, it might prove persuasive to
cease the EU's visa-free travel agreement for Russian elites,
Lyrvall stated. Concurrently, Lyrvall noted "positive
thinking in the EU" over visa liberalization for Georgians,
especially since Russian passport holders (including South
Ossetians with Russian passports) already enjoy the benefits
of the June 2007 visa facilitation agreement between the EU
and Russia.

5.(C) Regarding actions in the Council of Europe, Lyrvall
noted that Bildt, in his capacity as Chairman of the
Committee of Ministers, is preparing a letter to the Council
on his trip to Georgia, and his failure to secure permission
to visit Moscow on the same journey. Bildt's recommendations
to the Council are still being finalized, including on the
possibility of expelling Russia from the Council. Lyrvall
noted that a two-thirds majority of ministers would be
required for such a move, and that a two-thirds majority of
ambassadors would be needed to convene an extraordinary
session of the Committee of Ministers. Ambassadors will meet
September 3 to discuss whether to convene a ministerial later
in the month. Lyrvall opined that a gathering on the margins
of the UNGA might be the only feasible. Separately, Lyrvall
noted that the Council of Europe will send its Commissioner
for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, to Georgia today, August
22, to assess the human rights and humanitarian conditions in
the conflict region. Hammarberg intends to travel to North
Ossetia and has received a Russian visa.


6. (C) Action Request: Both Nicola Clase and Deputy FM
Frank Belfrage have asked us for US views on next steps for a
Georiga donors conference. they would appreciate getting our
views before the August 25 Merkel visit. Charge passed to

STOCKHOLM 00000587 002 OF 002


Belfrage a contact telephone number for DepSecTreas Kimmitt;
we would also appreciate receiving some guidance (to Charge
Silverman and POl Counselor Koehler) that we could gist and
share with the Swedes.
SILVERMAN