Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STOCKHOLM712
2008-10-23 14:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
SWEDISH MFA ON AESA RELEASIBILITY, AFGHANISTAN AND
how-toVZCZCXRO2523 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSM #0712 2971449 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231449Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3832 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0088 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000712
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ETRD MARR RS SW IR AF
SUBJECT: SWEDISH MFA ON AESA RELEASIBILITY, AFGHANISTAN AND
IRAN
Classified By: DCM ROBERT SILVERMAN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
(C) On Oct. 23, Swedish MFA political director Bjorn Lyrvall
told DCM:
-- On releasibility of the AESA radar, Sweden's Amb in
Washington has reported that Sweden is likely to get an
export version, which Lyrvall termed "very positive news."
Asked about timing, DCM said he understood that it would take
both time and money to develop an export version, that the
timing would be dictated by the technological review process.
DCM encouraged the MFA to maintain regular contact with the
US Department of Defense on this issue.
-- On Afghanistan, Lyrvall described a two-stage review
process planned by the Swedish government.
First, by Nov. 7, the government will introduce in parliament
a bill to renew the deployment, to include a modest increase
in troops (beyond the roughly 400 currently deployed).
Second, earlier in 2009, the government would thoroughly
review Afghanistan policy, with a view towards strengthening
its commitment. On the military side, this would include
looking at both numbers in the four provinces they patrol in
the north, and restrictions on nation-wide deployment. On
aid, the Swedes would look at boosting support for the Afghan
government's policing and crisis management capacities.
-- On Iran, Lyrvall repeated the Swedish concerns with going
beyond existing UN sanctions. In reviewing with Lyrvall the
text of UNSCR 1803, which calls for member states to exercise
increased vigilance on expanding trade credits, DCM noted
that Swedish official trade credits for exports to Iran had
increased in the past year. Lyrvall agreed, but also noted
that this recent increase in trade and official credits came
in the context of an overall decreasing trade with Iran over
the past three years. Lyrvall characterizes the past year's
increase as a fluctuation, not a trend. In general, Lyrvall
(and other Swedish interlocutors on this subject) take pains
to characterize Germany, and not Sweden, as the leading EU
member opposed to enhanced sanctions.
-- On Georgia and Russia, Lyrvall said Sweden was pleased
with the Brussels conference on Georgia, at which Sweden
pledged bilateral aid of $55 million over three years.
Lyrvall is cautious about Bildt's claim that Sweden is the
largest bilateral European donor, noting that Germany's
two-year pledge may be slightly larger on an annual basis.
Lyrvall was also happy with the EU Council result of
postponing reopening the Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement with Russia, which he said sends the right signal
to Russia.
WOOD
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ETRD MARR RS SW IR AF
SUBJECT: SWEDISH MFA ON AESA RELEASIBILITY, AFGHANISTAN AND
IRAN
Classified By: DCM ROBERT SILVERMAN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
(C) On Oct. 23, Swedish MFA political director Bjorn Lyrvall
told DCM:
-- On releasibility of the AESA radar, Sweden's Amb in
Washington has reported that Sweden is likely to get an
export version, which Lyrvall termed "very positive news."
Asked about timing, DCM said he understood that it would take
both time and money to develop an export version, that the
timing would be dictated by the technological review process.
DCM encouraged the MFA to maintain regular contact with the
US Department of Defense on this issue.
-- On Afghanistan, Lyrvall described a two-stage review
process planned by the Swedish government.
First, by Nov. 7, the government will introduce in parliament
a bill to renew the deployment, to include a modest increase
in troops (beyond the roughly 400 currently deployed).
Second, earlier in 2009, the government would thoroughly
review Afghanistan policy, with a view towards strengthening
its commitment. On the military side, this would include
looking at both numbers in the four provinces they patrol in
the north, and restrictions on nation-wide deployment. On
aid, the Swedes would look at boosting support for the Afghan
government's policing and crisis management capacities.
-- On Iran, Lyrvall repeated the Swedish concerns with going
beyond existing UN sanctions. In reviewing with Lyrvall the
text of UNSCR 1803, which calls for member states to exercise
increased vigilance on expanding trade credits, DCM noted
that Swedish official trade credits for exports to Iran had
increased in the past year. Lyrvall agreed, but also noted
that this recent increase in trade and official credits came
in the context of an overall decreasing trade with Iran over
the past three years. Lyrvall characterizes the past year's
increase as a fluctuation, not a trend. In general, Lyrvall
(and other Swedish interlocutors on this subject) take pains
to characterize Germany, and not Sweden, as the leading EU
member opposed to enhanced sanctions.
-- On Georgia and Russia, Lyrvall said Sweden was pleased
with the Brussels conference on Georgia, at which Sweden
pledged bilateral aid of $55 million over three years.
Lyrvall is cautious about Bildt's claim that Sweden is the
largest bilateral European donor, noting that Germany's
two-year pledge may be slightly larger on an annual basis.
Lyrvall was also happy with the EU Council result of
postponing reopening the Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement with Russia, which he said sends the right signal
to Russia.
WOOD