Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STOCKHOLM456
2009-07-23 15:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
SWEDEN TO CLOSE FIVE MISSIONS IN 2009
how-toVZCZCXRO4820 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHSM #0456 2041505 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 231505Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4557 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000456
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN TO CLOSE FIVE MISSIONS IN 2009
Classified By: CDA Robert Silverman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000456
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN TO CLOSE FIVE MISSIONS IN 2009
Classified By: CDA Robert Silverman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On July 23, the MFA officially announced the results
of a controversy that has been brewing for some time: the
closure of five of its missions abroad in 2009. This
includes the consulates in New York and Los Angeles. MFA
State Secretary Belfrage told CDA on June 30 that the
closures and staff reduction are necessary to meet new
budgetary constraints. The missions and expected dates of
closure are:
-- Consulate-General Los Angeles, no later than December 31,
2009;
-- Consulate-General New York, no later than January 31, 2010;
-- Embassy Colombo, no later than March 31, 2010;
-- Consulate-General Kaliningrad, no later than October 31,
2009;
-- Consulate-General Canton (Guangzhou),no later than
November 30, 2009.
2. (U) Responsibility for Swedish relations with southern
China and consular activities will be transferred to the
Embassy in Beijing. Sweden is looking to open honorary
consulates in Colombo, Los Angeles, and New York. The 26
honorary consulates that currently report to Los Angeles and
New York will now report to the Embassy in Washington,
however Sweden is exploring options to have a Schengen-member
take over visa functions. FM Bildt has been heavily
criticized in Swedish press for the two closures in the U.S.
3. (C) Comment: The closures are motivated by budgetary
reasons; the MFA has a USD 8 million deficit. In addition,
some observers in Sweden believe the specific cuts are driven
partly by FM Bildt's personal feelings--especially the move
to close down the embassy in Sri Lanka. Bildt was denied an
official visa to Colombo last May, and he expressed his
frustration in his blog. Moreover, consulates are a luxury
in Bildt's view. The CDA overheard Bildt once say that the
consulate in Los Angeles was not helpful to him during his
many trips to Southern California.
SILVERMAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN TO CLOSE FIVE MISSIONS IN 2009
Classified By: CDA Robert Silverman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On July 23, the MFA officially announced the results
of a controversy that has been brewing for some time: the
closure of five of its missions abroad in 2009. This
includes the consulates in New York and Los Angeles. MFA
State Secretary Belfrage told CDA on June 30 that the
closures and staff reduction are necessary to meet new
budgetary constraints. The missions and expected dates of
closure are:
-- Consulate-General Los Angeles, no later than December 31,
2009;
-- Consulate-General New York, no later than January 31, 2010;
-- Embassy Colombo, no later than March 31, 2010;
-- Consulate-General Kaliningrad, no later than October 31,
2009;
-- Consulate-General Canton (Guangzhou),no later than
November 30, 2009.
2. (U) Responsibility for Swedish relations with southern
China and consular activities will be transferred to the
Embassy in Beijing. Sweden is looking to open honorary
consulates in Colombo, Los Angeles, and New York. The 26
honorary consulates that currently report to Los Angeles and
New York will now report to the Embassy in Washington,
however Sweden is exploring options to have a Schengen-member
take over visa functions. FM Bildt has been heavily
criticized in Swedish press for the two closures in the U.S.
3. (C) Comment: The closures are motivated by budgetary
reasons; the MFA has a USD 8 million deficit. In addition,
some observers in Sweden believe the specific cuts are driven
partly by FM Bildt's personal feelings--especially the move
to close down the embassy in Sri Lanka. Bildt was denied an
official visa to Colombo last May, and he expressed his
frustration in his blog. Moreover, consulates are a luxury
in Bildt's view. The CDA overheard Bildt once say that the
consulate in Los Angeles was not helpful to him during his
many trips to Southern California.
SILVERMAN