SWEDISH RESPONSE TO SEPTEMBER 15-16 GAERC DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000625

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG SE RS EUN
SUBJECT: SWEDISH RESPONSE TO SEPTEMBER 15-16 GAERC DEMARCHE

REF: A. A. STATE 96598

B. B. STATE 95724

Classified By: DCM ROBERT SILVERMAN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B & D)


1. (C) Summary: Sweden thinks there is little to fear from a
Serbian request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
to review the status of Kosovo, according to Hakan Emsgard,
Deputy Director General of the EU Department at the MFA. The
case would languish there for years, he asserted. Sweden
supports EULEX operating in all parts of Kosovo, he stated,
but the mission should ¬ go in with too much force.8 EU
monitors in Georgia must have access to all parts of the
country, but EU unity on this point is fragile. Turkey must
do more to improve relations with Cyprus if it is to get a
positive review in next fall,s talks with the EU. End
Summary.

Kosovo and the ICJ
--------------


2. (C) On September 11, we met with the Deputy Director
General of the EU Department, Hakan Emsgard, and delivered
reftel GAERC demarches. Emsgard confirmed press reports that
Sweden does not oppose Serbia asking the ICJ to give an
opinion on Kosovo's independence. The rationale behind
Sweden's position is that because &many UN members are
against Kosovo's independence,8 we run the risk that a UN
resolution will emerge against Kosovo's declaration of
independence. Such could prevent other countries from
recognizing Kosovo. By sending the case to the ICJ, &we
would buy time8--an ICJ decision would take &a few years,8
during which Serbia would settle down and turn westward,
focusing its attention on EU accession. POL Counselor pushed
back, noting that a referral to the ICJ would introduce an
element of uncertainty and possibly prevent other nations
from recognizing Kosovo. Emsgard agreed with these points,
but thought the possibility of UNGA involvement in the issue
was a potentially larger problem.

EULEX and Serbia
--------------


3. (C) Emsgard said Sweden,s position is that EULEX should
have a mandate for all of Kosovo, including the Serb
enclaves, but that if EULEX goes in with too much force it
would raise the risk of more incidents like the violence in
Mitrovica last March. Enforcing the border regime with
Serbia should be a priority and the West should continue its
dialogue with the Serbian government.

Georgia
--------------


4. (C) Emsgard reiterated Sweden's position that the EU must
send monitors to Georgia as soon as possible and that they
should have access to all parts of the nation, including
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. He remarked that problems within
the EU will likely result in little will to confront Russia
on the latter point. &EU unity is critical,8 he said, if
it is to have an effect on Russia. The EU should focus on
rebuilding Georgia and protecting Saakashvili, he added,
instead of harming Russia )- especially since there are few
effective instruments available to challenge Moscow.

Turkey and Cyprus
--------------


5. (C) Calling Cyprus the &key to the EU-NATO
relationship,8 Emsgard said that if Turkey does not show
concrete improvement on its relationship with Cyprus, its
accession to the EU will be in danger. He stated that Ankara
must ease access for Cypriot vessels into Turkish ports
before next fall,s third and final review of Turkey's
adherence to its EU accession plan. Emsgard stated that USG
help in getting Turkey to be more &cooperative8 was
crucial.
WOOD