Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STOCKHOLM667
2009-10-23 14:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:  

SWEDEN LEADS EU TROIKA TO NORTH KOREA

Tags:  PREL PGOV NK EUN SW 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSM #0667 2961421
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 231421Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4818
INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0516
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0308
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0462
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1070
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0749
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0753
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 1228
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0338
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000667 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV NK EUN SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN LEADS EU TROIKA TO NORTH KOREA

REF: RICHARDSON-KOEHLER EMAIL 10/21/09

Classified By: PolCouns Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (B) & (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000667

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV NK EUN SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN LEADS EU TROIKA TO NORTH KOREA

REF: RICHARDSON-KOEHLER EMAIL 10/21/09

Classified By: PolCouns Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (B) & (D).


1. (C) Poloffs met with MFA Director General for Asia Klas
Molin October 22 to deliver reftel points and discuss the EU
Troika's planned visit to North Korea October 27-31; we also
spoke earlier with North Korea desk office Emma Nordlund.
Sweden holds the rotating EU Presidency, so Molin will lead
the EU delegation to Pyongyang. Molin noted that:

--Sweden agrees with the importance of the international
community not accepting North Korea as a nuclear weapons
state, and it will urge the prompt return of the DPRK to the
Six Party Talks.

--Sweden strongly supports respect for human rights and will
push the issue, especially childrens' rights.

--Sweden supports the "swift" implementation of UNSCR 1874.
Last July, France and other EU Member States had proposed to
ban a long list of luxury goods for export to the DPRK and to
impose a "too sweeping" visa ban on DPRK officials at the
vice minister level or above. Sweden opposed both proposals
because they would have been too complicated to sort out and
could not have been implemented quickly. The EU is still
finalizing a "more concrete, narrow" list of luxury goods to
ban.

--On calibrating humanitarian assistance, Sweden agrees that
now is not the time for "new" economic development
assistance, but it does plan to "resume one or two projects"
that were discussed at a recent seminar hosted by the Swedish
embassy in Washington (attended by EAP/K officers).

--On linking improvement in relations to denuclearization,
while "keeping our long-term goals in mind," Sweden believes
"non-political, humanitarian" engagement remains important
and is considering "one or two seminars" with DPRK officials.
(Separately, the head of an MFA-funded think tank in
Stockholm told Pol Counselor this week that a delegation of
DPRK officials and academics would be here at the end of the
month for a five-day program with Swedish officials and
academics.)


2. (C) As for the October 27-31 visit of the EU Troika to
North Korea, Molin and Nordlund told us that their delegation
was originally scheduled to be received at the vice minister
level, but Pyongyang decided to "downgrade" the level of
reception some days ago for reasons that are unclear. At the
MFA, a Director General for Europe will now be the main
interlocutor, although a Vice Foreign Minister may host a
welcome dinner. The Swedes believe there will be a series of
field trips to see aid projects. While the North Koreans
have yet to finalize the itinerary, the Swedes have proposed
visits to: hillside farming sites, orphanages, water
sanitation facilities, and handicap rehabilitation centers.


3. (C) As for the near future, the Swedish MFA wants to start
focusing more on climate change and environmental issues --
"non-controversial issues" -- with North Korea, especially
hazardous chemicals. Nordlund commented that North Korea is
the only country to still produce DDT. The American
Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) approached
the Swedes for help arranging a December workshop in
Stockholm between DPRK and U.S. scientists on climate issues.
The Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences is handling the
logistics and the MFA is working to get appropriate DPRK
participation. So far North Korean reaction has been
"positive."


4. (C) Comment: While Sweden supports U.S. goals of a
denuclearized DPRK, it differs on tactics, believing that
sanctions will have little effect on Pyongyang (or Tehran).
While reluctantly accepting that missile- or WMD-related
trade might be controlled, they are opposed to any sort of
serious ban on luxury goods. We expect they will work
quietly but effectively within the EU to prevent such.
BARZUN