SWEDISH MFA SAYS "WE'RE READY TO INCREASE AID TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000624 SENSITIVE SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY TEXT WHSR FOR CHRIS THOMAS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID AF SW SUBJECT: SWEDISH MFA SAYS "WE'RE READY TO INCREASE AID TO AFGHANISTAN -- GIVE US YOUR IDEAS" REF: STOCKHOLM 610 Classified By: DCM Bob Silverman, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) The Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP),John Walters, met with MFA State Secretary Frank Belfrage on September 8 to discuss the way forward in Afghanistan. Walters thanked Sweden for its long-term support of Afghanistan, especially for its commitment to leading a PRT. Both sides agreed that security and poppy eradication must be dealt with together. ¶2. (C) Belfrage said Sweden is restructuring its international aid program to focus on select areas of the world (reftel). In Afghanistan, Sweden wants to increase the number of development projects it funds. Additionally, he said Sweden is working on a joint Nordic approach to Afghanistan, combining security with civilian operations, and is looking for suggestions to better target its programs. ¶3. (C) Comment: Now is the time to enter into a serious, detailed discussion with the Swedes over what they can do on the ground to improve the situation in Afghanistan, especially in their PRT in Mazar-i Sharif. Post seeks Department guidance on these issues. DCM has also spoken with MFA Political Director Lyrvall about the possibility of a joint U.S.-Swedish assessment mission to Mazar-i-Sharif to look at reconstruction and development needs. End Comment. ¶4. (U) This cable was cleared by ONDCP staff. WOOD