Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STOCKHOLM51
2009-01-23 13:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Stockholm
how-toVZCZCXRO3680 PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSM #0051 0231342 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 231342Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4061 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000051
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV EU SW
SUBJECT: SWEDISH MFA ON JANUARY GAERC
REF: SECSTATE 4297
Classified By: CDA Robert Silverman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
(C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche January 21 to Magnus
Scholdtz, EU Correspondent at the MFA. Scholdtz said the
agenda for the January 26 GAERC was not entirely fixed, but
made the following substantive comments:
-- Guantanamo Detainees: Guantanamo detainees will be
discussed under the agenda item "all other business" during
lunch on January 26. "The EU is looking for a common
position on this," he added. While hesitant to discuss
Sweden's position, he stated that "it is quite clear based on
our lack of objection, that there exists a political will to
be able to come back to the U.S. in a constructive way" on
the issue. He added that Swedish national legislation will
"regulate" Sweden's response on this "political issue."
-- Afghanistan: Scholdtz confirmed that Afghanistan is not on
the agenda, saying "it's a pity, the agenda was not so
crowded." He added that Sweden is working hard within the EU
for a positive response to Afghan Interior Minister Atmar's
request for greater support for EUPOL, but noted that
recruitment of police trainers remains a very difficult
challenge. (Henrik Landerholm of the Folke Bernadotte
Academy, a Swedish government agency working on crisis
management issues for the MFA and Ministry of Defense, told
us in a recent meeting that he has been charged with
recruiting civilian advisers, including police, for
Afghanistan, but that he is finding it very hard to attract
talented officers.)
-- Russia-Ukraine Gas Dispute: Sweden has virtually no
dependence on Russian gas or oil and so is less active than
others in internal EU discussions, Scholdtz noted. He said
Sweden shares the view that the issue of diversification has
not been dealt with by the EU and the "lessons of 2006" have
not led to action. "Russia is trying to build dependency by
others in the EU," he added. However, Sweden sees growing
difficulties in Russia's ability to continue to be a reliable
energy supplier, or to increase its supply through new
pipelines such as Nord Stream, given the declining
infrastructure of Russian fields.
-- Gaza: Scholdtz stated that the Czechs are having a hard
time "holding the EU position together," but that there was
willingness within the EU to contribute to "safeguarding" the
borders, including maritime. "The EU is ready to engage but
is not interested in being fully responsible," he concluded.
SILVERMAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV EU SW
SUBJECT: SWEDISH MFA ON JANUARY GAERC
REF: SECSTATE 4297
Classified By: CDA Robert Silverman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
(C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche January 21 to Magnus
Scholdtz, EU Correspondent at the MFA. Scholdtz said the
agenda for the January 26 GAERC was not entirely fixed, but
made the following substantive comments:
-- Guantanamo Detainees: Guantanamo detainees will be
discussed under the agenda item "all other business" during
lunch on January 26. "The EU is looking for a common
position on this," he added. While hesitant to discuss
Sweden's position, he stated that "it is quite clear based on
our lack of objection, that there exists a political will to
be able to come back to the U.S. in a constructive way" on
the issue. He added that Swedish national legislation will
"regulate" Sweden's response on this "political issue."
-- Afghanistan: Scholdtz confirmed that Afghanistan is not on
the agenda, saying "it's a pity, the agenda was not so
crowded." He added that Sweden is working hard within the EU
for a positive response to Afghan Interior Minister Atmar's
request for greater support for EUPOL, but noted that
recruitment of police trainers remains a very difficult
challenge. (Henrik Landerholm of the Folke Bernadotte
Academy, a Swedish government agency working on crisis
management issues for the MFA and Ministry of Defense, told
us in a recent meeting that he has been charged with
recruiting civilian advisers, including police, for
Afghanistan, but that he is finding it very hard to attract
talented officers.)
-- Russia-Ukraine Gas Dispute: Sweden has virtually no
dependence on Russian gas or oil and so is less active than
others in internal EU discussions, Scholdtz noted. He said
Sweden shares the view that the issue of diversification has
not been dealt with by the EU and the "lessons of 2006" have
not led to action. "Russia is trying to build dependency by
others in the EU," he added. However, Sweden sees growing
difficulties in Russia's ability to continue to be a reliable
energy supplier, or to increase its supply through new
pipelines such as Nord Stream, given the declining
infrastructure of Russian fields.
-- Gaza: Scholdtz stated that the Czechs are having a hard
time "holding the EU position together," but that there was
willingness within the EU to contribute to "safeguarding" the
borders, including maritime. "The EU is ready to engage but
is not interested in being fully responsible," he concluded.
SILVERMAN