Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STOCKHOLM1
2009-01-02 14:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
Media Reaction - Foreign Minister Carl Bildt op-ed
how-toVZCZCXYZ0007 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHSM #0001 0021453 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 021453Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4006
UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000001
SIPDIS
SECSTATE FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/PPD, EUR/NB, EUR/PA, EUR/FO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PINS PHUM PREF EUN SW
SUBJECT: Media Reaction - Foreign Minister Carl Bildt op-ed
I. On January 2, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt outlined the
foreign policy challenges and priorities for Sweden in 2009 in the
independent liberal Stockholm morning daily "Dagens Nyheter":
"At the same time that we have now entered our 'European year'- our
participation in the EU troika during the first half of the year,
the elections to European Parliament in June and then our
chairmanship of the EU until the turn of the year - there is reason
to conclude that we live in a less stable and less sure world than
we thought only a year ago.
And that makes the challenges that we face in foreign affairs
considerable....
"2009 will be Sweden's big European year. Already, starting
yesterday, we are a part of the so-called troika, under Czech
leadership, that steers the European Union....
"A lot of things are on the EU's internal list - elections to the
European Parliament, a new European Commission and a new referendum
in Ireland about the important Lisbon treaty - but it is important
that we do not let the internal agenda dominate. Europe's citizens
want policies that are about real problems....
"At the same time we must continue to develop our more robust
instruments of peace.
"The interventions in Chad succeeded in protecting refugees and
prevent the broadening of the war in Darfur, and now the EU has
launched its first maritime operation to protect food transports and
combat piracy in Somali waters....
"But even more important - and more difficult - is the nation
building efforts that today demand our resources in Kosovo and
Afghanistan and that tomorrow - hopefully! - will do so in
Palestine. With its expanded arsenal of also civilian and economic
tools, the EU will become an increasingly important actor here as
well....
"Soon a U.S. administration with low credibility will be replaced by
a new administration that - at least for a while - will be uniquely
strong by the expectations that are tied to it....
"Few matters are more important in the coming year than to increase
understanding between this new United States and the European Union.
It is only through this partnership that we are able to take on the
major global challenges - and commit other countries that are also
decisive for the success.....
"Nothing would be more important than to prepare the ground for
genuine peace between Israel and the entire Arab world, and joint
efforts for a thriving Palestinian state. That this would open new
both political and economic perspectives for the region as a whole
is obvious....
"I am also convinced that such [an agenda] would also aid the
possibility of handling the other difficult challenges we face in
this wider region - as well as in the longer term fight the
terrorist organizations whose evil we were once again reminded of
through the Mumbai attacks."
SILVERMAN
SIPDIS
SECSTATE FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/PPD, EUR/NB, EUR/PA, EUR/FO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PINS PHUM PREF EUN SW
SUBJECT: Media Reaction - Foreign Minister Carl Bildt op-ed
I. On January 2, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt outlined the
foreign policy challenges and priorities for Sweden in 2009 in the
independent liberal Stockholm morning daily "Dagens Nyheter":
"At the same time that we have now entered our 'European year'- our
participation in the EU troika during the first half of the year,
the elections to European Parliament in June and then our
chairmanship of the EU until the turn of the year - there is reason
to conclude that we live in a less stable and less sure world than
we thought only a year ago.
And that makes the challenges that we face in foreign affairs
considerable....
"2009 will be Sweden's big European year. Already, starting
yesterday, we are a part of the so-called troika, under Czech
leadership, that steers the European Union....
"A lot of things are on the EU's internal list - elections to the
European Parliament, a new European Commission and a new referendum
in Ireland about the important Lisbon treaty - but it is important
that we do not let the internal agenda dominate. Europe's citizens
want policies that are about real problems....
"At the same time we must continue to develop our more robust
instruments of peace.
"The interventions in Chad succeeded in protecting refugees and
prevent the broadening of the war in Darfur, and now the EU has
launched its first maritime operation to protect food transports and
combat piracy in Somali waters....
"But even more important - and more difficult - is the nation
building efforts that today demand our resources in Kosovo and
Afghanistan and that tomorrow - hopefully! - will do so in
Palestine. With its expanded arsenal of also civilian and economic
tools, the EU will become an increasingly important actor here as
well....
"Soon a U.S. administration with low credibility will be replaced by
a new administration that - at least for a while - will be uniquely
strong by the expectations that are tied to it....
"Few matters are more important in the coming year than to increase
understanding between this new United States and the European Union.
It is only through this partnership that we are able to take on the
major global challenges - and commit other countries that are also
decisive for the success.....
"Nothing would be more important than to prepare the ground for
genuine peace between Israel and the entire Arab world, and joint
efforts for a thriving Palestinian state. That this would open new
both political and economic perspectives for the region as a whole
is obvious....
"I am also convinced that such [an agenda] would also aid the
possibility of handling the other difficult challenges we face in
this wider region - as well as in the longer term fight the
terrorist organizations whose evil we were once again reminded of
through the Mumbai attacks."
SILVERMAN