VZCZCXRO3059
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #1852/01 1711050
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 191050Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7874
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 0030

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001852 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2018 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF SW IZ
SUBJECT: SWEDISH AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ ON REFUGEES, SIDA 
DELEGATION, PLANS FOR BAGHDAD EMBASSY AND VISIT TO CAMP 
CROPPER 
 
REF: (A) BAGHDAD 1734 (B) AMMAN 1789 
 
Classified By: Charge d' Affaires Patricia A. Butenis.  Reasons 1.5 (b, 
d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: In a June 17 meeting with the Charge, Swedish 
Ambassador to Iraq (resident in Amman) Niclas Trouve provided 
updates on implementation of the Swedish-Iraqi refugee 
"Return Agreement" (which he said is running smoothly) and 
the status of reopening an Embassy in Baghdad (expected to be 
open and staffed in 9-12 months).  In the context of the 
latter, Trouve sought a more explicit understanding of the 
type of assistance post could provide to Swedish diplomatic 
personnel in the event of an emergency.  He characterized his 
recent visit to Camp Cropper as "fantastic," but also noted 
that a delay in obtaining information on one Swedish-Iraqi 
dual national detainee -- while now resolved -- was of 
concern.  End Summary. 
 
Positive Dynamic Since Stockholm 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Charge Butenis opened the meeting by congratulating 
Ambassador Trouve for Sweden's excellent job hosting the May 
29 ICI in Stockholm.  She noted that Iraqi officials were 
very pleased and saw the conference as a turning point that 
demonstrated the world's attitude toward Iraq had changed for 
the better.  Since then we have had the visit of the UAE 
Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayid to Baghdad (Ref A) and PM 
Maliki's visit to Amman (Ref B).  There is a positive dynamic 
and the ICI contributed to that. 
 
Swedish-Iraqi Return Agreement and Refugees 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Ambassador Trouve noted that he had been in Stockholm 
for the ICI, as well as for bilateral discussions the GOS had 
with the Iraqis.  On the latter, the main topic of discussion 
was implementation of the Return Agreement that had been 
signed in February.  Trouve characterized the return process 
as running smoothly, although "still a trickle" of 1-2 people 
per day.  Returnees are flown from Stockholm to Amman and 
then on to Baghdad.  After that, the GOS has not been 
tracking what happens to them or where they go: "That's for 
the Iraqi government to do, as per the terms of our 
agreement."  Trouve noted that both the number of asylees 
arriving in Sweden each month (500) and the percentage of 
those staying (25 percent) have dropped considerably since 
last year (1500 and 80 percent respectively).  Ambassador 
Butenis outlined recent expanded USG efforts to address the 
Iraqi refugee issue, including the agreement to take in 
12,000 individuals this fiscal year, the expanded definition 
of who can claim refugee status, and new mechanisms to do 
in-country processing here in Iraq, given the difficulties 
Iraqis face traveling to Amman as a result of new Jordanian 
visa rules.  She also noted that 5,000 slots have been 
created under the "Special Immigrant Visa" program for Iraqis 
who have worked for the USG, US media or US NGOs for at least 
one year. 
 
SIDA Visit 
---------- 
 
¶4. (C) Turning to his current visit, Trouve said he was here 
this time with a delegation from the Swedish Development 
Agency SIDA.  The fact that they came at all was the result 
of a long bureaucratic battle in Stockholm centered on 
security concerns of SIDA leadership.  The SIDA officials 
that came with him, however, have extensive field experience 
in the region and have said seeing with their own eyes the 
situation on the ground is the best thing they could have 
done.  Trouve said that once a permanent Swedish Embassy 
opens (see below), he hopes it will include a SIDA office so 
as to facilitate direct support for projects, not just 
through UNHCR and various NGOs, as is currently the case. 
 
Swedish Embassy Update 
---------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Ambassador Trouve then provided an update on the 
state-of-play on standing up a Swedish Embassy in Baghdad. 
He noted that earlier in the day the first work began on the 
Embassy site (located, he said, just outside the 
International Zone (IZ) on the main road between the MFA and 
the Baghdad Zoo).  Renovation of two buildings (one for the 
Residence and one for the Chancery) and possible construction 
of a third (to house the guard force) will be necessary. 
T-walls are being erected and a guard force is being put in 
place.  However GOS construction and security personnel 
expect it will take 9-12 months before all necessary work 
 
BAGHDAD 00001852  002 OF 002 
 
 
will be completed to allow Embassy personnel to move in and 
the Embassy to be opened.  Until then, Trouve will continue 
to visit on a monthly basis. 
 
Request for Exchange of Notes on Procedures 
for US Embassy Assistance in Case of Emergency 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶6. (C) In the context of the preparations necessary to open 
their Embassy, Ambassador Trouve requested post to provide 
something in writing that would clarify the steps that would 
be taken in case of an emergency requiring immediate 
assistance for Swedish Embassy personnel. Specifically, he 
asked for clarification and description of the following: 
 
-- In case of an attack on the Swedish Embassy, can they rely 
on Embassy/MNF-I Quick Reaction Forces (QRF) for rescue and 
transport (as required) to the Combat Support Hospital (CSH) 
for medical treatment? 
 
-- After treatment at the CSH, how would Swedish Embassy 
personnel be Medevac'ed out of Iraq and to where? 
 
-- Will we share intelligence on security matters? 
 
¶7. (C) Ambassador Trouve noted that the GOS had signed a 
long-term agreement with the private UK Control Risk Group 
"but we may need to sign some kind of MOU locally with you" 
to clarify the issues noted above.  Ambassador Butenis 
promised to work with them on these issues and noted that our 
Regional Security Office already shared threat information 
with and provided guidance to many Diplomatic Missions here. 
 
"Fantastic" Visit to Camp Cropper; 
One Security Case of Concern 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (C) Finally, Ambassador Trouve expressed deep thanks to 
the U.S. military for the recent visit he had made with other 
Swedish officials to Camp Cropper.  In particular, he said 
the full strategic briefing General Hipwell provided had been 
terrific.  What he had seen of the detention facilities "was 
very good, in very good order."  He noted that during his 
visit he had had the opportunity to meet with two 
Swedish-Iraqi dual nationals and that for the GOS "it is very 
important that they are treated in the utmost manner and be 
given access to legal representatives.  He asked whether the 
recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Guantanamo would effect 
these prisoners (one had asked him "when can I see a 
lawyer?").  Ambassador Butenis said that the ramifications of 
the Supreme Court ruling are still being studied. 
 
¶9. (C) Ambassador Trouve then brought up one particular case 
that "may be a problem for you in the future." He said the 
GOS had inquired in December 2007 about the status of a 
detained Swedish national.  For months, the U.S. response had 
been that they could find no record of the individual in 
question.  Then, in late May, the U.S. notified the GOS that 
the individual had been located.  He acknowledged that the 
problem could have been that he had been listed as an Iraqi 
not as a Swede but "still the fact that he had been there for 
six months" before the GOS was notified was problematic. 
This delay notwithstanding, Ambassador Trouve underlined that 
the support he had gotten from the U.S. Embassy on Swedish 
detainees has been excellent and they are currently working 
on the modalities of ensuring regular prisoner visits every 
3-4 months. 
BUTENIS