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O 221522Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
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RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3701
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000587 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2018 
TAGS: PGOV MARR PREL RU GG SW
SUBJECT: TTFGG01: SWEDISH POLITICAL DIRECTOR ON GEORGIA 
 
REF: A. STATE 89769 
     ¶B. STOCKHOLM 586 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Robert Silverman for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: Sweden fully supports the US positions on 
Georgia, both measures to support the Georgian government and 
people (see ref b on their military observers and 
humanitarian aid to date), and measures to review relations 
with Russia.  On the latter, MFA political director Lyrvall 
outlined possible steps that Sweden is considering in its 
current role (until November 2008) as chairman of the Council 
of Europe.   Sweden wants our guidance on next steps for a 
donors conference for Georgia, see action request paragraph 
¶6.  End Summary. 
 
2.(C) On August 21, Charge and POL Counselor raised reftel 
talking points with Bjorn Lyrvall, Director General for 
Political Affairs in the Swedish MFA.  Lyrvall, who had just 
come from a meeting with FM Carl Bildt, stated that Sweden 
was in full agreement with the U.S. position and shared our 
concern that Russian troops were not withdrawing from 
Georgian territory despite repeated promises.  He said Sweden 
would continue to call publicly for an immediate Russian 
withdrawal and full respect for the territorial integrity of 
Georgia.  He added that the MFA was currently considering 
plans for long-term economic support of Georgia, including 
through possible use of a "Phoenix Fund."  Lyrvall stated 
that Bildt and German President Angel Merkel would discuss 
Germany's proposed plan for a donors meeting for Georgia when 
she visits on Monday, August 25. 
 
3.(C) Lyrvall expressed concern that neither the new French 
nor Russian UNSC draft resolutions offer details about the 
"international mechanism," without which Moscow will say 
Russian troops have the right to stay where they are. 
Lyrvall added that he has continued to call Paris to ask for 
details on implementation.  Lacking such, Sweden is urging 
Paris to convene an European Council extraordinary meeting, 
perhaps with Saakashvili joining, per Lyrvall. (In a 
follow-on meeting August 22 with Charge, Swedish State 
Secretary Nicola Clase had a somewhat different take:  Sweden 
would only want a European Council meeting after careful 
preparations to ensure unity, and thus to take place after 
the early September informal EU FM "Gymnich" meeting in 
Avignon France.) 
 
4.(C) We raised with Lyrvall the possibility of the EU 
suspending work on its draft Partnership and Cooperation 
Agreement with Russia, noting that requiring Russia to first 
join the WTO would be in line with international trade 
liberalization practices.  Both Lyrvall and Clase told us 
that Sweden would support suspending negotiations on this 
agreement, but others in the EU probably won't.  Lyrvall 
noted "thinking in the EU" that the current leadership in 
Moscow may simply not care enough about the deal to be 
swayed.  On the other hand, it might prove persuasive to 
cease the EU's visa-free travel agreement for Russian elites, 
Lyrvall stated.  Concurrently, Lyrvall noted "positive 
thinking in the EU" over visa liberalization for Georgians, 
especially since Russian passport holders (including South 
Ossetians with Russian passports) already enjoy the benefits 
of the June 2007 visa facilitation agreement between the EU 
and Russia. 
 
5.(C) Regarding actions in the Council of Europe, Lyrvall 
noted that Bildt, in his capacity as Chairman of the 
Committee of Ministers, is preparing a letter to the Council 
on his trip to Georgia, and his failure to secure permission 
to visit Moscow on the same journey.  Bildt's recommendations 
to the Council are still being finalized, including on the 
possibility of expelling Russia from the Council.  Lyrvall 
noted that a two-thirds majority of ministers would be 
required for such a move, and that a two-thirds majority of 
ambassadors would be needed to convene an extraordinary 
session of the Committee of Ministers.  Ambassadors will meet 
September 3 to discuss whether to convene a ministerial later 
in the month.  Lyrvall opined that a gathering on the margins 
of the UNGA might be the only feasible.  Separately, Lyrvall 
noted that the Council of Europe will send its Commissioner 
for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, to Georgia today, August 
22, to assess the human rights and humanitarian conditions in 
the conflict region.  Hammarberg intends to travel to North 
Ossetia and has received a Russian visa. 
 
¶6.  (C)  Action Request:  Both Nicola Clase and Deputy FM 
Frank Belfrage have asked us for US views on next steps for a 
Georiga donors conference.  they would appreciate getting our 
views before the August 25 Merkel visit.   Charge passed to 
 
STOCKHOLM 00000587  002 OF 002 
 
 
Belfrage a contact telephone number for DepSecTreas Kimmitt; 
we would also appreciate receiving some guidance (to Charge 
Silverman and POl Counselor Koehler) that we could gist and 
share with the Swedes. 
SILVERMAN