SCENESETTER FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY CARSON,S JULY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000412 SIPDIS STATE ALSO FOR USAID E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2029 TAGS: EUN ECON USAID MARR PREL SW SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY CARSON,S JULY 13-15 VISIT TO STOCKHOLM Classified By: CDA Laura Kirkconnell for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Introduction and Summary: The U.S. Embassy in Stockholm warmly welcomes your visit to Sweden. The mood in Sweden is both eager anticipation for its turn to set the agendas and chair the EU meetings, and a bit of trepidation at the daunting list of issues, starting with the financial crisis and climate change. Bilateral relations are very close and collaborative, and you will find good partners MFA Political Director Bjorn Lyrvall and his team. Lyrvall, the third-ranking MFA official, will meet you on Tuesday morning. He is quite close to Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, having served as his deputy in Bosnia in the mid-1990s. Ambassador Anders Hagelberg, Head of the MFA,s Africa Department, will chair the EU delegation for the COAFR Troika meetings that follow. He was formerly Ambassador to Angola and also served in Egypt. ¶2. (C) Sweden sees the continuing situations in Darfur, Chad, Somalia, eastern Congo, Niger and the threat to the climate as central issues for the future of Africa. They have an ambitious Africa program, but the key to success for us and them will involve engagement that keeps Stockholm focused and coordinated with us on our key foreign policy priorities. The Horn of Africa, and Somalia in particular, is Sweden's number one priority in Africa. There are currently some 25,000 Somali refugees living in Sweden, and a small but significant number have traveled to Al-Qaida camps for training. The Swedish security services recently took the unusual step of highlighting publicly its concerns over Swedish citizens fighting for Al-Shabaab in Somalia. ¶3. (U) Sweden, the world's largest donor as a percentage of Gross national Income, devotes some 45 percent of its economic assistance to Africa (nearly $2 billion). Sweden also contributes forces to protect ships off Somalia, military advisors to the UN missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Sudan. End Introduction and Summary. Sweden's Africa Policy -------------- ¶4. (U) Sweden is pursuing a policy for Africa that reflects and builds on the positive changes the continent has undergone during the past decade. Swedish assistance emphasizes reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development, stimulating economic growth, building democracies and protecting human rights. Swedish development assistance is highest in the world as a share of Gross National Income (0.98 percent of GNI in 2008) and prioritizes quality and results. The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida),under supervision of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, is responsible for Sweden's bilateral aid. Multilateral aid is channeled partly via the MFA and partly via Sida. Slightly more than 50 percent of Sweden's total budget for development cooperation is channeled via Sida. The top five recipients of Sida assistance in Africa (2008) were: Tanzania ) $105 million; Mozambique ) $102 million; Uganda ) $54.6 million; Kenya ) $53.6 million; and the Democratic Republic of Congo ) $43.7 million. ¶5. (C) Sweden's military also supports international efforts to stabilize Africa. Until September 15, Sweden is providing three Swedish Armed Forces vessels (two corvettes and a support ship) with a total of 152 crew and maintenance personnel to protect ships carrying food and other urgent supplies in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia. The EU recently extended the mandate for Operation Atalanta until December 2010, and Sweden is currently preparing legislation to extend its Naval mission there. You may wish to inquire about Swedish plans for participation after September. Sweden also has a land-based maintenance and administration unit based in neighboring Djibouti, five military advisors at the United Nations Organization Mission in the DRC, and three military and two staff officers at the United Nations Mission in Sudan. ¶6. (U) Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt will visit South Africa in mid-September to attend the EU-South Africa summit. In conjunction with his visit, the Swedish Embassy and the Swedish Trade Council offices in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa are organizing a trade delegation to visit Namibia and South Africa September 8-10. South Africa is an important Swedish trade partner and the EU's largest African trade partner. Where Economic Partnership Agreements are concerned, Sweden supports the removal of trade barriers and free trade among partners. Somalia: A Top Priority -------------- STOCKHOLM 00000412 002 OF 002 ¶7. (S) Our Swedish interlocutors tell us that the Horn of Africa, and Somalia in particular, is Sweden's top priority. While other countries focus on piracy, Sweden and Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Ambassador Marika Fahlen, are focused also on the overall development of Somalia. The 25,000 Somali refugees living in Sweden are far behind other ethnic groups when it comes to integrating into Swedish society, partly due to their adherence to Islam and the values of clan-based societies and partly due to their isolation in certain Swedish suburbs. Sweden is concerned that disenfranchised young Somalis are being recruited to return to Somalia to participate in Al-Shabaab activities and training. In a rare move, the Swedish internal security service SAPO publicly highlighted its concerns over Swedish citizens fighting for Al-Shabaab in Somalia. A few individuals with Swedish passports have been killed in fighting in Somalia, and the Al-Shabaab has threatened to attack individuals in Sweden and Denmark. Other Items on COAFR Troika Agenda -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Sudan: Sweden is especially interested in how U.S. policy regarding Sudan will develop. Sweden has recently increased development aid to Sudan, named a special envoy (Ambassador Michael Fruhling) to the country, and has a ministerial position devoted to engagement in Sudan. Implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement is the most pressing need in Sudan, according to the Swedes. - Ethiopia/Eritrea: The Swedes are also interested in the developing U.S. policy toward the Ethiopia/Eritrea conflict. Sweden has been more critical of the situation there than other EU countries, but believes positive developments have taken place. - Zimbabwe: Years ago, the Swedes pushed the EU to take a more critical position, but our interlocutors tell us the EU is clearly united now. Swedish contacts tell us they agree with USG positions concerning political benchmarks and humanitarian support. The big question for the Swedes involves Prime Minister Tsvangirai, who recently visited Sweden. Sweden did not pledge any additional funds during his visit, preferring instead to monitor his political progress first. - Kenya: The Swedes tell us the EU is united on Kenyan issues, so they believe it will be possible to have a clearer approach to Kenya. Our interlocutors say Sweden wants to focus on the seriousness of the Reform Agenda. - Unconstitutional Changes of Government: The Swedes are mainly focused on Guinea due to the military coup led by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara. Sweden, which does not maintain an embassy in Guinea, would like to see swifter action from regional organizations and the EU on this issue. They hope the EU will emulate U.S. policy. - Sahel: Sweden is not as involved in Sahel as other countries, focusing mainly on providing humanitarian aid instead. Niger is becoming increasingly problematic, given the president,s recent invoking of Article 53 of the Constitution and the dissolution of the Parliament. KIRKCONNELL