Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STOCKHOLM222
2009-04-01 15:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:  

SWEDES WELCOME AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN WHITE

Tags:  NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF SW 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6834
PP RUEHDBU RUEHPW
DE RUEHSM #0222 0911513
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011513Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4268
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000222

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2019
TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF SW
SUBJECT: SWEDES WELCOME AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN WHITE
PAPER, INDICATE WILLINGNESS TO DO MORE

REF: A. STATE 28929

B. STATE 29482

Classified By: POL Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

Political Counselor delivered Afghanistan-Pakistan White
Paper and points for the NATO and U.S.-EU summits (reftels)
to MFA Deputy Director General for International Security
Policy Carl Magnus Ericsson and Director General for Asia
Klas Molin on March 27 and 31, respectively. Both noted
Foreign Minister Carl Bildt's strong public endorsement of
the strategy, with Molin adding, "Two thumbs up! We could
not have written a better strategy ourselves." They also
made the following observations:

-- The White Paper reduces the gap between U.S. and EU views
on the challenges and ways ahead in Afghanistan. The focus
on population security is absolutely essential to win hearts
and minds in Afghanistan -- and even in Europe.

-- On foreign assistance, a "lack of conditionality" has been
one of the biggest problems for Swedish efforts over the
years, so it is especially good to see the White Paper's
reference to benchmarks and effectiveness.

-- Sweden is very appreciative of the clear support for UNAMA
and for SRSG Kai Eide. Support for the UN mission is
essential if it is to succeed in its effort to coordinate
assistance for Afghanistan.

-- The first thing Afghans say when asked what they need is
"security" and the second thing they say is "responsible
governance." Therefore, the emphasis on good governance and
rooting out corruption is especially welcomed.

-- On civilian casualties, Sweden fully understands that
insurgents attack from villages in order to draw Allied fire
and that they are expert at exploiting any resulting civilian
casualties for their own propaganda purposes. Nonetheless,
given the fact that "honor" plays such an important role
among the tribes, Sweden thinks it is essential to pay
compensation to survivors as soon as possible.

-- Sweden notes that all U.S. units in Afghanistan are to be
paired with Afghan units. The MFA feels that all Swedish
troops in Afghanistan should be working as Operational
Mentoring and Liaison Teams. Sweden currently has one OMLT
at the corps level and it will be sending a second team
before the end of the year to work at the battalion level.
Sweden could send a third team "the week after" but
understands that there are no open slots for an OMLT in "our
region." (Note: the Swedish PRT is in RC-North, based in
Mazar-e Sharif.)

-- Sweden understands that the Germans are considering
establishing "schools" for training courses in several
critical fields, including engineering and signals. Sweden
might be able to contribute to that effort.

SILVERMAN