SWEDEN'S POINTS ON 25 JANUARY FAC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000032 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2020 TAGS: PREL PGOV AF IR BK EUN SW SUBJECT: SWEDEN'S POINTS ON 25 JANUARY FAC REF: A. A. STOCKHOLM 13 ¶B. B. STOCKHOLM 24 Classified By: Acting PolCouns Briana Olsen for reasons 1.4 (B) & (D). ¶1. (C) Summary: Embassy Stockholm delivered FAC demarche points on January 20 to the EU Correspondent's Office Deputy Kristin Forsgren-Bengtsson, Head of the Gulf Section Gufran Al-Nadal, and Head of the Asia and East Asia Department Klas Mohlin. Their main points were: -- The London Conference should focus on election reform and drug eradication; -- The international community should focus more on Yemen's political and economic issues; -- The January FAC is unlikely to issue a new statement on Iran; -- HighRep Ashton is very engaged on Bosnia, but swift action needs to be taken on the follow-up to Butmir; Spain needs to get in touch with key U.S. actors. -- The EU must find an alternative to Kenya to take in pirates captured by the Atalanta Mission. End Summary. Afghanistan/Pakistan and the London Conference -------------- - ¶2. (SBU) Forsgren-Bengtsson said the FAC will prepare for the London Conference. The draft documents will not arrive until this weekend, so there is not much turn around time for capitals to prepare to coordinate an EU message. The FAC will not produce Council Conclusions, but a draft text for the London Conference might emerge. Sweden wants to emphasize reforming the electoral procedures and drug eradication (ref A). ¶3. (C) In a separate meeting (ref B),Klas Molin said he fully understood the focus on a conditions-based approach and that Sweden would make plans for its ongoing participation in ISAF based on conditions that prevail in the four provinces of its PRT. Sweden has had, and plans to have, a long-term presence in Afghanistan, he added. Molin agreed that ISAF members need to maintain a unified message on these points. Soft on Yemen and Iran -------------- ¶4. (C) Gufran Al-Nadal, Head of Gulf Section, told PolCouns that during its EU Presidency, Sweden called attention to Yemen's fragile state through numerous EU statements and Council Resolutions. With the EU Presidency now over, Sweden is "rethinking in bilateral terms" its work there. Sweden's current development assistance includes projects for women and children in Yemen led by the Swedish NGO Save the Children and the Swedish Red Cross. Al-Nadal expressed support for USAID's work in the region. ¶5. (C) Al-Nadal pointed out that Sweden does not have an Embassy in Yemen. All the Swedish work is channeled through the Embassy in Riyadh although she noted that there is an EU delegation in Yemen, of which half of the staff consists of diplomats. Several times, Al-Nadal stressed the importance of taking a broader perspective in Yemen. While the current focus on anti-terrorism is important, Al-Nadal called for more attention to political and economic issues, and she emphasized the importance of engagement with Yemen's neighbors, including Saudi Arabia and countries in the Horn of Africa. Al-Nadal concluded that Sweden "is open to all information on Yemen that the U.S." and others are willing to share. ¶6. (C) On Iran, Al-Nadal said that Sweden is waiting for the UN Security Council to begin work on a new resolution. She indicated that the EU is unlikely to issue a new statement at the January FAC because these issues were already included in the European Council's December declaration. Bilaterially, "Sweden is not a big supporter of sanctions," Al-Nadal said. Bosnia: Thank Goodness for Ashton! -------------- ¶7. (C) Forsgren-Bengtsson said a follow-up discussion of the Butmir will occur at lunch, with a later discussion on the future of the Althea mission. Sweden is very much encouraged by HighRep Ashton's engagement and coordination of the issue; Forsgren-Bengtsson implied that Spain was not taking a leading role in this and should "get in touch with the right U.S. actors immediately." Sweden is still concerned that Bosnian leaders are not serious about talking the right steps STOCKHOLM 00000032 002 OF 002 to bring Bosnia closer to the EU, as other Western Balkan countries have done. ¶8. (C) Conclusions on Althea failed at both the November and December GAERCs, but are likely this time, Forsgren-Bengtsson said. Spain and others are signaling that they want to withdraw from the mission, while the UK -- which does not have troops in Althea -- is pushing for Member States to stay. The conclusions will focus on the non-executive mission to start training and security sector reform. Member States agree that Althea's presence should remain through the October 2010 election, but Sweden would like to see an end date for Althea's withdrawal. However, Forsgren-Bengtsson doubts this will happen and Althea will continue in accordance with the UN's mandate. Somalia: Too many pirates! -------------- ¶9. (SBU) No decision will be taken on Somalia, just a discussion between HighRep Ashton and the Spanish Presidency. Member States have differing opinions on whether or not the EU should send a training mission to Somalia. As to Atalanta, the EU must discuss what to do with the captured pirates, now that Kenya is no longer accepting them. Forsgren-Bengtsson said the EU needs to find alternative countries, but human rights concerns are pervasive. The Seychelles, however, might be willing to take the captured pirates. Some Member States want Council conclusions, but Forsgren-Bengtsson thinks such are unlikely. Changes to Agenda -------------- -- (SBU) Ukraine was removed because "the elections turned out as expected" but will be on the February FAC agenda due to the second round of elections. -- (SBU) Haiti was added due to the earthquake. The discussion on Monday will focus on how the EU can add value to the UN's security forces. The Swedish Ministry of Defense is currently analyzing the number of troops, type of equipment and financial assistance it can offer to the EU's support of the UN. -- (U) Serbia was "never on the agenda", said Forsgren-Bengtsson. BARZUN