Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STOCKHOLM263
2009-04-28 09:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
SWEDEN RECALLS CDA TO SRI LANKA FOR CONSULTATIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO0719 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSM #0263 1180959 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 280959Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4314 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO IMMEDIATE 0071 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 0142
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000263
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV EU CE SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN RECALLS CDA TO SRI LANKA FOR CONSULTATIONS
Classified By: Pol Couns Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (B) & (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000263
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV EU CE SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN RECALLS CDA TO SRI LANKA FOR CONSULTATIONS
Classified By: Pol Couns Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (B) & (D).
1. (C) On April 28, Sweden recalled its Charge d'Affaires to
Sri Lanka for "consultations" in response to the Sri Lankan
government's denial of a visa for FM Carl Bildt. FMs Bildt,
Milliband and Kouchner had decided at the April 27 GAERC to
travel jointly on April 29 to Colombo for talks with the
government. But, according to the MFA's South East Asian
Desk, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Sweden told MFA State
Secretary Belfrage his country "welcomes a bilateral visit by
Bildt in May, but it is too much work to receive three
visitors at once." Sweden currently believes that Sri Lanka
wants to limit foreign interference in domestic affairs and
found it easier to "refuse the Swede" than the other foreign
ministers. In a radio interview and on his blog today, Bildt
called the denial "an irrational and unacceptable decision"
that will have a significant impact on the bilateral
relations.
2. (C) Comment: The recall is an unusual political
demonstration of indignation by Sweden and FM Bildt. Sweden
is a large aid donor to Sri Lanka and hosts a significant
community of Sri Lankan refugees. In recent weeks the police
allowed illegal protests by pro-Tamil Tiger groups to occur
in front of the Prime Minister's Office and a major downtown
intersection, which may have influenced thinking in Colombo.
SILVERMAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV EU CE SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN RECALLS CDA TO SRI LANKA FOR CONSULTATIONS
Classified By: Pol Couns Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (B) & (D).
1. (C) On April 28, Sweden recalled its Charge d'Affaires to
Sri Lanka for "consultations" in response to the Sri Lankan
government's denial of a visa for FM Carl Bildt. FMs Bildt,
Milliband and Kouchner had decided at the April 27 GAERC to
travel jointly on April 29 to Colombo for talks with the
government. But, according to the MFA's South East Asian
Desk, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Sweden told MFA State
Secretary Belfrage his country "welcomes a bilateral visit by
Bildt in May, but it is too much work to receive three
visitors at once." Sweden currently believes that Sri Lanka
wants to limit foreign interference in domestic affairs and
found it easier to "refuse the Swede" than the other foreign
ministers. In a radio interview and on his blog today, Bildt
called the denial "an irrational and unacceptable decision"
that will have a significant impact on the bilateral
relations.
2. (C) Comment: The recall is an unusual political
demonstration of indignation by Sweden and FM Bildt. Sweden
is a large aid donor to Sri Lanka and hosts a significant
community of Sri Lankan refugees. In recent weeks the police
allowed illegal protests by pro-Tamil Tiger groups to occur
in front of the Prime Minister's Office and a major downtown
intersection, which may have influenced thinking in Colombo.
SILVERMAN