SWEDEN WELCOMES TURKISH "CIVILIAN PRT" BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000079 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2020 TAGS: PREL NATO MOPS MARR AF TU SW SUBJECT: SWEDEN WELCOMES TURKISH "CIVILIAN PRT" BUT CONCERNED OVER "SECURITY VACUUM" REF: A. STOCKHOLM 77 ¶B. ANKARA 221 ¶C. 2009 STOCKHOLM 797 Classified By: POL Counselor Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Sweden "welcomes" the Turkish civilian PRT (refs B and C) but remains concerned about the creation of a "security vacuum," Carl Magnus Eriksson, Deputy Director of the Security Policy Department at the MFA, told Poloffs February 17 in a meeting on other topics (Ref A). Eriksson underlined the need for a clear allocation of security responsibilities in Jowzjan and Sar-e Pul, the provinces where the Turks plan to operate. Concern over security remains high in both Stockholm and Berlin, Eriksson noted, adding that Sweden is also not happy with the Turkish plan to label itself as a full PRT; either Turkey should act as such (and do security) or operate under another title, he said. ¶2. (C) Sweden's goal now is for a meeting with the Turks and the Germans in March in Brussels, at which all will sign an MOU making clear who has security responsibility for the two provinces, MFA Afghan Desk Officer Annelie Almkvist told Poloff February 18. When asked, the Swedes said they did not see "flexibility in the Turkish stance" and did not rule out that the Turks would proceed with the PRT without a security agreement. ¶3. (C) Sweden wants to continue to be the senior voice of the PRT for external contacts, including with "the international NGO community and local officials," Eriksson said. Sweden is strongly inclined to appoint a senior civilian representative to be in charge of all civilian activity in the PRT, operating in parallel with the senior military officer. That person should be the one who "speaks for the PRT." The Swedes and the Turks are working on a letter of intent focusing on the civilian aspect of cooperation, he added. ¶4. (C) Comment: The Swedes welcome additional civilian assets in their PRT but are not at all happy with the Turk's stance on security. We believe this concern over security is slowing down Swedish decision-making with respect to our own requested MOU on Life Support (Ref A). BARZUN