VZCZCXYZ0004
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSM #0559/01 2241201
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111201Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3667

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000559 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SECSTATE FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/PPD, EUR/NB, EUR/PA, EUR/FO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PINS PHUM PREF EUN SW
SUBJECT: Media Reaction - Georgia/Ossetia/Russia 
 
Summary: Over the weekend Swedish media in correspondent reports, 
analytical articles and editorials gave considerable coverage to the 
war between Georgia and Russia over South East Ossetia. General 
consensus was that Georgia's aspirations for NATO membership was one 
of the reasons for Russia to take action. Another was the 
multinational struggle to control the gas and oil pipelines in the 
region. 
¶I. - It was reported that Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt was 
deeply concerned over developments in Georgia and the Caucasus and 
that he reminded Russia of its responsibility and called for the 
country to show restraint. 
"The way in which the situation in South Ossetia has deteriorated is 
a cause for profound concern. It is extremely important that all 
those involved show restraint and play their part in bringing about 
a political solution," said Carl Bildt in a Foreign Ministry 
statement. 
 
Media reported that Bildt in a statement also expressed concern 
about the impact of the conflict on civilians. 
"Georgia and Russia are dangerously close to war and there is a 
great risk of this spreading to other parts of the Caucasus. No 
state has the right to intervene militarily in the territory of 
another state simply because there are individuals there with a 
passport issued by that state or who are nationals of the state," 
Bildt said. 
 
"Attempts to apply such a doctrine have plunged Europe into war in 
the past... And we have reason to remember how Hitler used this very 
doctrine a little more than half a century ago to undermine and 
attack substantial parts of central Europe," he said. 
 
It was reported that Sweden has called for an immediate end to 
bombing raids and the withdrawal of Russian troops that have entered 
Georgia to allow for a peaceful solution to the conflict. On 
Saturday, Sweden joined calls for an emergency European Union summit 
on the escalating conflict in Georgia. 
"There must be a very strong response on the part of the European 
Union," said Bildt, according to the TT news agency. 
 
II. - On August 11 the conservative Stockholm morning daily "Svenska 
Dagbladet" on its debate page ran an article by Torgny Hinnemo, 
foreign policy analyst at the MFA, in which he noted that the 
Russia-Georgia military conflict is a result both of the big-power 
game between Russia and NATO and a long-standing regional 
antagonism. 
 
-- On August 11 apolitical Stockholm business daily "Dagens 
Industri" editorialized on "Too Early to Talk about a New Cold 
War." 
 
"If Russia does not wish a head-on confrontation with the West but 
instead is keen to get some legitimacy for its actions, it better 
move onto the strenuous negotiation path.... 
 
"However, the Georgia crisis must, in spite of it all, still be 
regarded as an isolated and very serious local conflict and not as a 
beginning of a new Cold War. It should not be explained by claiming 
that it is an effort by Russia to take control of the Georgian oil 
pipe between the Caspian Sea and Mediterranean or by alleging that 
Russia wishes to regain parts of its lost empire. 
 
"Over the weekend Foreign Minister Carl Bildt perhaps was too quick 
to state that Russia - by its obscure statements about being 
entitled to protect Russians in other countries - thereby has 
introduced a new doctrine. However, should he be correct it will 
have far-reaching consequences, not least for Sweden's defense 
policy." 
 
III. - On August 9 independent liberal Stockholm morning daily 
"Dagens Nyheter" editorialized on "Russia Show its teeth" stating 
that, 
 
"The situation is the most serious one since the violent conflict 
that resulted in South Ossetia's declaration of independence in the 
early 1990's. From day one Ossetia has enjoyed strong support from 
Russia while Georgia has had the West and the U.S. on its side.... 
 
"Russia has strongly opposed Georgia's NATO aspirations while the 
U.S. has wanted to speed up Georgia's NATO membership application 
process.... 
 
"The EU cannot keep up its present attitude towards Russia - a 
strategy that seems to be, at all costs, to avoid provoking the 
Russian bear. A relation that is based on fear of confrontation is 
neither healthy nor durable in the long run. Russia's military 
outrage must be condemned; its geopolitical greed must be 
criticized. Otherwise there is an obvious risk that we soon will see 
a similar scenario in Russian-supported Abkhazia." 
 
IV. On August 9 the conservative Stockholm morning daily "Svenska 
Dagbladet" ran a comment by foreign editor Claes Arvisson who blamed 
Vladimir Putin for the present situation. 
"With Russia giving support one of the parties in the conflict and 
the U.S. to the other, we can expect a frostier climate in world 
politics." SILVERMAN