VZCZCXRO8823
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHSM #0591 2391236
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 261236Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3705
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000591 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL ECON GG SW
SUBJECT: GEORGIA DOMINATED MERKEL'S VISIT TO SWEDEN 
 
Classified By: CDA SILVERMAN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B & D) 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (C) Russia's action in Georgia dominated the discussions 
when Merkel visited PM Reinfeldt in Stockholm, August 25. 
Germany and Sweden agree that Russia must withdraw its troops 
from Georgia and that the Russian President must not sign the 
referendum recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Both 
support a "friends" gathering on Georgia to show support, but 
not a donor conference per se. End Summary. 
 
Georgia and Russia 
------------------ 
 
¶2. (U) Georgia dominated the discussions between PM Reinfeldt 
and Chancellor Merkel on August 25, according to contacts in 
the Prime Minister's office, MFA, and German embassy. At a 
joint press conference, Reinfeldt emphasized the importance 
of a full Russian withdrawal, stating "anything else would be 
unacceptable." He underlined that Georgia now needs support 
for its rebuilding and it is important to discuss how this 
should be organized. "It is significant to discuss the future 
of Russia and the authoritarian tendencies we are now 
seeing," he said. Chancellor Merkel stated that the decision 
in the Russian Duma to recognize the independence of Abkhazia 
and South Ossetia was against international law. "I expect 
the Russian President not to sign the resolution," she said. 
Both, however, stressed the importance of maintaining 
contacts with Russia.  Merkel stated that it is no s ecret 
that Germany and Russia have common economical interests and 
added, "...but we cannot disregard our values." 
 
¶3. (C) Contacts in the PM's office affirmed that the press 
conference reflected well private discussions between 
Reinfeldt and Merkel.  They relayed also that the Swedish 
government remains in the planning stages for the Monday, 
September 1, European Council meeting and remains engaged 
with the French to "Work issues out", i.e., whether 
Saakashvilli will attend.  Whether or not he does, our 
contacts describe the summit as important because of the 
symbolism of the EU gathering to discuss the way forward with 
Russia.  As for an international conference on Georgia, the 
German DCM told us that rather than a donors' conference, 
something more along the lines of a "friends" gathering to 
"show support" is what Merkel has in mind. 
 
NATO 
---- 
 
¶4. (U) Merkel sidestepped questions from the press regarding 
Germany's prior approach to a Ukrainian and Georgian NATO 
membership by saying that what was decided in Bucharest still 
stands. "What is discussed is not an immediate membership but 
a road towards membership. Ultimately that is a decision for 
the applicant states and NATO," Merkel stated.  Asked whether 
Sweden would follow a possible Finnish NATO membership as a 
result of Russia's actions in Georgia, Reinfeldt made it 
clear that the issue is not on the agenda but that the 
countries tended to follow each other on these issues. "Most 
of our international soldiers, men and women, are under NATO 
command, we are part of these structures in a good way, it is 
not like during the Cold War anymore," he said. 
 
¶5. (U) Comment on atmospherics:  Most of the Merkel-Reinfeldt 
meetings were one-on-one at the Swedish version of Camp David 
(Harpsund, at a lake north of Stockholm). By all reports, the 
relationship between Reinfeldt and Merkel is excellent. Bildt 
did not attend the meetings but remained in Stockholm for the 
annual gathering of all Sweden,s overseas ambassadors. 
WOOD