SWEDISH MFA ON AESA RELEASIBILITY, AFGHANISTAN AND

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