Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10STOCKHOLM59
2010-02-12 06:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
ON IRAN, SWEDES LOOKING FOR "TOOLS THAT WORK"
how-toVZCZCXRO2073 OO RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHTRO DE RUEHSM #0059 0430637 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 120637Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5101 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000059
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/IR MSPRING AND BMARWAHA,
STATE FOR DRL/NESCA JHUTCHINGS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2020
TAGS: PHUM PREL SW
SUBJECT: ON IRAN, SWEDES LOOKING FOR "TOOLS THAT WORK"
REF: A. STATE 07242
B. STATE 12108
Classified By: POL Counselor Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000059
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/IR MSPRING AND BMARWAHA,
STATE FOR DRL/NESCA JHUTCHINGS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2020
TAGS: PHUM PREL SW
SUBJECT: ON IRAN, SWEDES LOOKING FOR "TOOLS THAT WORK"
REF: A. STATE 07242
B. STATE 12108
Classified By: POL Counselor Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) Poloffs delivered reftel demarches on the Universal
Periodic Review (UPR) session (ref A) and human rights (ref
B) to Ulf Samuelsson, outgoing MFA Iran Desk Officer, and his
replacement Carl Mikael Granz, on February 11. Samuelsson
noted that the Swedes are not normally in favor of
coordinating UPR statements with other EU Member States, but
that "Iran was a special case." Reading from the text of the
Swedish comments to be given at the UPR session, Samuelsson
said the Swedes will speak on three topics: ill-treatment and
torture following the June elections; religious freedom
especially regarding the Baha'i; and freedom of expression.
Samuelsson did not know who would deliver the comments at the
UPR, but he emphasized that the Swedish coordination with
other Member States was unusual.
2. (C) Regarding human rights, Samuelsson pointed out that
the language contained in ref B mirrored the language in the
U.S. - EU statement released on February 8. Granz indicated
that Sweden may decide to issue a separate statement but is
still feeling its way through post-Lisbon changes on how to
handle such matters. Samuelsson then said that FM Carl Bildt
will hold a departmental meeting in mid-February to review
Sweden's Iran policy. "Sweden is growing impatient with
Iran," he said, and "wants to find tools that work."
3. (C) Comment: Samuelsson did not appear to be able to
explain further what "tools" might be under consideration.
We assume he is waiting for instructions from FM Bildt in
next week's meeting. We will report on the outcomes of that
meeting as soon as possible.
BARZUN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/IR MSPRING AND BMARWAHA,
STATE FOR DRL/NESCA JHUTCHINGS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2020
TAGS: PHUM PREL SW
SUBJECT: ON IRAN, SWEDES LOOKING FOR "TOOLS THAT WORK"
REF: A. STATE 07242
B. STATE 12108
Classified By: POL Counselor Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) Poloffs delivered reftel demarches on the Universal
Periodic Review (UPR) session (ref A) and human rights (ref
B) to Ulf Samuelsson, outgoing MFA Iran Desk Officer, and his
replacement Carl Mikael Granz, on February 11. Samuelsson
noted that the Swedes are not normally in favor of
coordinating UPR statements with other EU Member States, but
that "Iran was a special case." Reading from the text of the
Swedish comments to be given at the UPR session, Samuelsson
said the Swedes will speak on three topics: ill-treatment and
torture following the June elections; religious freedom
especially regarding the Baha'i; and freedom of expression.
Samuelsson did not know who would deliver the comments at the
UPR, but he emphasized that the Swedish coordination with
other Member States was unusual.
2. (C) Regarding human rights, Samuelsson pointed out that
the language contained in ref B mirrored the language in the
U.S. - EU statement released on February 8. Granz indicated
that Sweden may decide to issue a separate statement but is
still feeling its way through post-Lisbon changes on how to
handle such matters. Samuelsson then said that FM Carl Bildt
will hold a departmental meeting in mid-February to review
Sweden's Iran policy. "Sweden is growing impatient with
Iran," he said, and "wants to find tools that work."
3. (C) Comment: Samuelsson did not appear to be able to
explain further what "tools" might be under consideration.
We assume he is waiting for instructions from FM Bildt in
next week's meeting. We will report on the outcomes of that
meeting as soon as possible.
BARZUN