IRANIANS BANNED FROM SWEDISH UNIVERSITIES

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000470 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR PTER IR SW SUBJECT: IRANIANS BANNED FROM SWEDISH UNIVERSITIES ¶1. The Swedish Security Police (SAPO),along with two other agencies - the Inspectorate of Strategic Products and the Radiation Safety Administration - recently sent letters to seven Swedish universities relaying an EU Council regulation that imposed restrictions on Iranian and North Korean students. Article 6 of the EU Council regulation 2007/140/CFSP, states that "Member States shall, in accordance with their national legislation, take the necessary measures to prevent specialized teaching or training of Iranian nationals, within their territories or by their nationals, of disciplines which would contribute to Iran's proliferation sensitive nuclear activities and development of nuclear weapon delivery systems." ¶2. Swedish Radio revealed this letter on July 21, 2009, stating that five Swedish educational institutions have decided to comply with SAPO's guidance. Each institution decides which of its program areas are affected by the restrictions. About 100,000 Iranian dual-nationals reside in Sweden. Public reaction to SAPO's guidance, although enacted last year, has been intense, resulting in public accusations of discrimination. A main reason for this is the erroneous assumption in the Iranian diaspora that the guidance applies to dual nationals--it does not. Nonetheless, Iranians make up a significant portion of international students enrolled in Swedish master programs. About 10,000 Iranians reside in Sweden without Swedish citizenship. According to SAPO there is only a handful of North Koreans studying in Sweden. SILVERMAN