Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STOCKHOLM412
2009-07-08 15:05:00
SECRET
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:  

SCENESETTER FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY CARSON,S JULY

Tags:  EUN ECON USAID MARR PREL SW 
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DE RUEHSM #0412/01 1891505
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O 081505Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4481
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
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).

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