VZCZCXRO6600
OO RUEHAG RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHSM #1439 3411657
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 071657Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2969
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 001439 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2017 
TAGS: PREL PGOV SW EU
SUBJECT: SWEDEN ON DECEMBER 10-11 EU FOREIGN MINISTERS 
MEETING (GAERC) 
 
REF: A. STATE 164327 
 
     ¶B. STATE 163945 
 
Classified By: Polcouns Casey Christensen for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
 SUMMARY 
--------- 
¶1. (C) On December 7, Poloff met with MFA Deputy European 
Corespondent Niclas Kvarnstrom regarding December 10 EU 
Foreign Ministers GAERC meeting (reftel A). Kvarnstrom noted 
the following: 
 
--EU Enlargement and the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). 
Sweden is one of the greatest supporters of EU expansion and 
constructive ENP engagement, and Sweden has been an advocate 
of keeping the door open for Turkey. 
 
--Kosovo. Foreign Minister Bildt is still developing his 
views on Kosovo and would prefer for the UNSC to determine 
Kosovo's final status early next year. 
 
--Iran. Sweden continues to have the same concerns about 
Iran's nuclear non-compliance and would like to see united 
international pressure maintained via the UNSC. 
 
--Sudan. Sweden agrees with our talking points and is 
increasingly concerned with the unconstructive actions of 
Sudanese President Bashir. 
 
--Lebanon. Poloff delivered demarche (reftel B) and there was 
no substantive response. END SUMMARY. 
 
EU ENLARGEMENT AND ENP 
---------------------- 
¶2. (C) Kvarnstrom said that Sweden is the biggest advocate of 
EU enlargement and an important supporter of strengthening 
the ENP. He noted that Sweden fought to incorporate the word 
"accession" into the upcoming council conclusions on 
enlargement and seeks to ensure that the EU upholds its 
commitments to potential members. On the ENP, Sweden thinks 
progress has been slow recently and supports implementing a 
performance-based approach that rewards reform. Sweden would 
also like to work on mobility issues, including visa 
liberalization. Sweden has long supported keeping the door 
open for Turkey. 
 
KOSOVO 
------ 
¶3. (C) On Kosovo, Kvarnstrom prefaced his statement by noting 
that Foreign Minister Bildt, "is still developing his 
thoughts on this issue."  He went on to explain that Sweden 
sees Kosovo as a problem that the EU must solve. However, 
Kvarnstrom said Sweden would prefer to see a final decision 
made by the UNSC, preferably after Serbian elections early 
next year. Sweden believes that this will give the EU the 
proper time to address the regional implications and will 
also give EU activity in Kosovo a solid, legal backing. 
Kvarnstrom noted how divisive this issue is within the EU and 
described Sweden as trying to act as a unifier. 
 
IRAN 
---- 
¶4. (C) Kvarnstrom said that Sweden still has serious concerns 
about Iran's nuclear non-compliance and lack of cooperation 
with the IAEA and with Solana. He said Sweden wants to see 
the international community, through the UNSC, maintain 
pressure on Iran. (COMMENT: Sweden has not supported EU 
autonomous sanctions in the past.) 
 
SUDAN AND CHAD 
-------------- 
¶5. (C) Kvarnstrom said that Sweden is becoming increasingly 
irritated with President Bashir who, in Sweden's opinion, has 
been saying all of the wrong things recently. Kvarnstrom also 
lamented the slower than expected deployment of EU forces to 
Chad and the increasing violence in the area where they are 
to be deployed. 
 
WOOD