VZCZCXRO4141
OO RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHSM #0736 1641534
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 131534Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2305
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000736 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2017 
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN KPAL ETRD SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN: DEMARCHE FOR JUNE 18-19 GAERC 
 
REF: STATE 80034 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Casey Christensen, reason 1.4 (B) & 
(D) 
 
¶1. (C)  On June 13 Poloff met with Niclas Kvarnstrom, MFA 
Deputy European Correspondent, and conveyed USG positions on 
select topics in advance of the June 18-19 GAERC. 
Kvarnstrom's substantive responses follow. 
 
¶2.  (C) Cuba.  Sweden opposes Spain's initiative to eliminate 
the EU's restrictive measures.  "Foreign Minister Bildt," 
said Kvarnstrom, "has little patience for these types of 
discussions."  Kvarnstrom underscored that the diplomatic row 
between Sweden and Cuba at the UNHRC this past March is still 
a recent memory in Stockholm.  "Bildt is in a combative mood" 
on Cuba, Kvarnstrom said before adding that Sweden has yet to 
observe significant progress on the human rights front, and 
thus will oppose any changes to the restrictive measures. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  European Neighborhood Policy.  Sweden wants to 
increase the proportion of EU assistance to ENP countries 
linked to performance-based criteria (i.e. on democratic 
promotion and reform). 
 
¶4.  (C)  Western Balkans.  On Kosovo, Sweden agrees on the 
need for U.S. and EU unity in support of the Ahtisaari 
proposal.  Sweden believes some form of independence for 
Kosovo is inevitable.  Stockholm underscores the need for a 
new UNSCR on Kosovo, and notes that the ESDP mission to 
Kosovo will require a UN mandate.  Kvarnstrom said Stockholm 
believes Serbia will not agree to any UNSCR granting 
independence to Kosovo, which "leaves the ball squarely in 
Russia's court."  He said the current EU focus is to obtain 
some type of solution that Russia can accept.  Both Sweden 
and the EU, he said, view continued close U.S. engagement 
with Russia as critical.  On Bosnia, Kvarnstrom said Bildt 
plans to meet with High Representative Lacjak on the margins 
of the June 21 EU Council Meeting. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Middle East Peace Process.  EU Commissioner 
Ferrero-Waldner will brief ministers at the GAERC on the 
situation in the Middle East.  Kvarnstrom saw nothing 
contentious in the U.S. position.  He stressed the need for a 
return to a more normalized aid flow.  The spiraling violence 
between Fatah and Hamas will no doubt figure in the upcoming 
GAERC discussions on the Middle East. 
 
¶6.  (C)  Sudan.  Kvarnstrom said France will brief ministers 
at the GAERC on Foreign Minister Kouchner's recent trip to 
Chad.  He expected ministers would consider France's 
suggestion for the possible creation of a humanitarian 
corridor from Chad to Darfur.  Kvarnstrom said ministers may 
also discuss the possible creation of an ESDP force (wholly 
separate from AU) for intervention in Darfur.  He believed 
this idea resulted from Kouchner's visit to Chad. 
 
¶7.  (C)  Kvarnstrom said GAERC ministers will also discuss: 
 
-- Libya and the Bulgarian nurses. 
 
-- Italy's proposal for an international death penalty 
moratorium.  Italy reportedly wants to bring this to the 
UNGA; Sweden favors a moratorium, but believes Italy should 
hold off bringing it to the UN until it secures enough votes 
to assure passage. 
 
-- Malta's initiative to hold minister-level discussions with 
the Arab League.  Sweden is open to the idea, but is unlikely 
to support something that replicates the Barcelona Process. 
 
WOOD