VZCZCXRO3307
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHSM #0136 0520657
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 210657Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0066
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3182
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000136 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2018 
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN PLANS TO OPEN EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY POLCOUNS CASEY CHRISTENSEN FOR REASONS 1.4 
 (B) AND (D). 
 
Summary 
------- 
¶1. (c) Following the signing of a repatriation agreement with 
Iraq, Sweden has agreed to open an Embassy in Baghdad.  The 
Embassy will not issue visas and will open after premises 
have been secured, security is worked out, and communications 
are assured: "likely after the Summer,"  End Summary. 
 
Repatriation Agreement Opens the Way for an Embassy 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
¶2. (u) On February 18, 2008, Sweden signed an agreement with 
Iraq to improve coordination and cooperation in facilitating 
the return of Iraqis living in Sweden.  Iraqi Foreign 
Minister Hoshyar Zebari and Swedish Ambassador Niclas Trouve 
(resident in Jordan) signed the accord which calls for Iraq 
to welcome back Iraqis whose asylum applications have been 
rejected in Sweden.  Sweden still planned to send most Iraqis 
back on a voluntary basis, but the agreement does allow for 
Stockholm to deport Iraqis against their will. 
 
¶3. (C) According to press reports, Iraqi Foreign Minister 
Zebari said that Sweden planned to establish a resident 
ambassador in Baghdad and planned on sending a technical team 
to Iraq in late February to look at premises and begin making 
arrangements.  Swedish MFA Director for the Middle East Peter 
Tejler told Polcouns February 20 that it would be more 
accurate to speak of a "permanent presence" than a fully 
functional Embassy.  For example, the Embassy will not issue 
visas.  Tejler said Sweden is considering two buildings, both 
outside the Green Zone.  The Swedes will not establish there 
mission, Tejler said, until they have found "Swedish 
solutions" for security and communications.  Sweden is 
considering contracting with a European firm to provide 
security, and will not request assistance from the U.S.  The 
new diplomatic presence is also contingent on allocation of 
funding, which has not yet occurred.  All told, Tejler said 
he expected the new mission not to be establish until "after 
the Summer." 
 
Inducing Immigrants to Return to Iraq 
------------------------------------- 
¶4. (U) Swedish Minister for International Development 
Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson announced February 15 a new 
government project allowing Iraqis who leave Sweden to start 
a business in Iraq to receive financing from Swedfund, 
Sweden's state venture capital fund.  The pilot program would 
allow entrepreneurs to receive loans or shared financing.  To 
qualify Iraqis would have to contribute their own capitol and 
take on full responsibility for the businesses involved. 
 
¶5. (U) In 2007, the Swedish Migration Board reported 18,599 
applications from Iraqis requesting asylum in Sweden, up from 
8,950 requests in 2006.  Sweden is the leading European 
destination for Iraqi asylees.  Sweden accepted 72 percent of 
all applications in 2007.  As Swedish law permits asylum 
seekers to settle in the town of their choice, many 
immigrants settle where they have friends or family from 
Iraq.  Sodertalje, Sweden, a town of 82,000 inhabitants now 
boasts over 5,000 Iraqi immigrants and the infrastructure for 
integration is being strained.  In December 2007 Swedish 
Migration Minister Tobias Billstrom announced that the 
government was looking into the possibility of requiring 
asylum seekers to only settle where there was housing, work 
or education possibilities. 
WOOD