ON IRAN, SWEDES LOOKING FOR "TOOLS THAT WORK"

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000061 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