AFGHAN AMBASSADOR TO THE NORDICS ON INCREASING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000148 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR AF SW SUBJECT: AFGHAN AMBASSADOR TO THE NORDICS ON INCREASING SWEDEN'S ROLE REF: STOCKHOLM 126 Classified By: CDA Robert Silverman for reasons 1.4 (B) & (D). ¶1. (C) Summary and Action Request: Afghan Ambassador to the Nordic countries, Jawed Ludin, met with CDA on February 26 to discuss ways to boost Sweden's role in Afghanistan. He focused on development aid as Sweden's comparative advantage. He suggested that Sweden should learn from Norway in its approach to double tracking development assistance through both the provinces and central government authorities. He said his FM requested at the EU Troika in Prague that the EU organize an international conference on Afghanistan assistance, and suggested that Sweden host it during its EU presidency in the second half of 2009. This would be a chance to review aid effectiveness, not a new pledging conference, he stressed. Action Request: Post seeks guidance on the desirability of Sweden hosting such a conference. End Summary and Action Request. Sweden's PRT -------------- ¶2. (C) Donor countries, like Sweden, should be more flexible with their aid to find ways to benefit both the central government and provincial levels, Ludin told the CDA, instead of directly funding provinces through PRTs or only focusing on the central government, Sweden should emulate the Norwegian process of allocating funds. For example, the Norwegian government signed a contract with the Ministry of Education stating the Ministry would provide teachers and schools in Faryab Province, where its PRT is based. The Norwegians then allocated funds to the central government, which in turn had the flexibility to use the funds in any province as long as it met its contractual agreements in Faryab. Ludin said the Swedes are receptive to this model. (We note, however, that in 2009 the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) will directly allocate a quarter of its Afghan aid budget to the provinces in its PRT.) ¶3. (C) Ludin said the Swedes do not like to use their troops to support aid projects, but that he has stressed to the Swedes the importance of using the military in constructive ways, such as building schools and wells. Ludin said that State Secretary Frank Belfrage told him in a separate meeting that development and civilian engagement in Afghanistan would remain high priorities during the Swedish presidency. Please Call First! -------------- ¶4. (C) Ludin was highly critical of FM Bildt's October 2008 trip to Afghanistan, stating that the Swedes failed to go through the proper channels to arrange and execute the visit, perhaps out of security concerns. PM Reinfeldt's January 2009 visit was better coordinated with the Afghan government, he said. In all, Sweden, compared to its Nordic neighbors, has sent far fewer minister-level visitors, according to Ludin. ¶5. (C) Ludin told the CDA that, according to Belfrage, Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Anna Karin Enestrom was appointed to engage directly with Amb. Holbrooke and European counterparts in Afghanistan (reftel). EU-led Global Conference on Afghanistan? -------------- ¶6. (C) Ludin said Afghan FM Spanta proposed to the EU Troika in Prague that the EU organize, and Sweden host, an international review conference on Afghanistan in the second half of 2009, not as a new pledging conference, but as a follow-on to the Paris Pledging Conference of 2008. Ludin reported that Belfrage told him he would consider the idea more carefully with FM Bildt, but questioned whether such a format would be the appropriate, or desirable, way to address Afghanistan-related issues during Sweden's presidency. The Norwegian FM is very supportive of the idea and wants the Swedes to take the initiative, said Ludin, adding that it would be helpful to have the U.S. support as well. ¶7. (C) Ludin lamented that security issues dominate discussions on Afghanistan, but development issues should be discussed just as much. The Europeans are "turned off" by the focus on hard security. Their competitive advantage, he said, was development aid, and money in is fungible, he stressed. He said if four of the Nordic states were thought of as one state, they would give more in aid to Afghanistan than any other nation in Europe -- about USD 350 million (Norway gives about USD 170, Denmark about USD 90 and Finland STOCKHOLM 00000148 002 OF 002 about USD 10 million, he said); Sweden gives USD 80 million. ¶8. (U) Bio Note: Prior to assuming his current position, Ludin was President Karzai's Chief of Staff. From 2003-2005 he was the Presidential Spokesman and Director of Communications. He worked for various NGOs in Afghanistan from 1994-8, focusing on humanitarian assistance. He is a fluent English speaker, and holds a Master of Science Degree in Political Science Theory from the University of London. SILVERMAN