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FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
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INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 0115
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0061
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0018
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA PRIORITY 0012
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 1298

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000170 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2019 
TAGS: PREL PGOV BO MD MW BK MK SU EG EU SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN ON MARCH GAERC AND GYMNICH 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (B) & ( 
D). 
 
¶1. (C) On March 10, Poloff discussed the March GAERC and 
GYMNICH with EU Deputy Correspondent Jonas Wendel; on March 
6, POL Counselor met separately with EU Correspondent Magnus 
Scholdtz.  Their comments follow: 
 
General Affairs Session: Afghanistan, Chad, Ireland 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
-- On Afghanistan, Council Secretariat conclusions calling 
for increased EU engagement supporting the election process 
will be presented as an "A" point.  Because the EU 27 need to 
be "fully calibrated" before issuing any declaration at the 
March 19-20 European Council, Afghanistan might appear also 
as a "false B item" to allow for a short discussion. 
 
-- The Council Secretariat and Commission were both tasked 
with producing options for addressing the problem of 
recruiting civil servants for the EUPOL Mission.  HighRep 
Solana was "very forceful" with member states on the need to 
produce personnel for EUPOL.  A number of different Working 
Groups are currently looking at incentive packages for 
civilian personnel, focusing on improving per diems and 
working conditions to make  Afghanistan attractive. 
 
-- The EU still is undecided on whether to expand the mandate 
of EU Special Representative Ettore Sequi to match that of 
Ambassador Holbrooke, that is, to explicitly include 
Pakistan.  Scholdtz noted that Sequi,s mandate is not 
explicitly limited to Afghanistan, but that it would be 
better to clearly articulate his regional responsibility. 
Scholdtz also discussed the possibility of "double-hatting" 
Sequi as both special representative and head of the European 
Commission delegation in Kabul.  Sweden favors double-hatting 
him so that he will have the Commission at his disposal. 
 
-- On Chad and the Central African Republic, the EU will also 
make a statement on the planned transition from the EUFOR 
mission to the UN mission, MINURCAT.  The EUFOR mandate 
expires March 15.  The EU will not reduce involvement with 
the hand-over; Sweden does not currently contribute. 
 
-- Preparations for the March 19-20 European Council meeting 
will also include discussion of the Irish referendum.  At the 
next COREPER, Ireland will give an update on its preparations 
for the referendum. 
 
External Relations Session: Belarus, Balkans, Bashir 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
-- On Belarus, the EU likely will extend the suspension of 
traveling sanctions for another six months.  Sweden has seen 
some positive developments in Belarus from the October 
sanctions suspension: increased social tolerance, release of 
dissidents, and the registration of a new, large political 
party.  If the  Belarusian Parliament recognizes Abkhazia and 
South Ossettia, the EU will have to "rethink the whole policy 
towards Belarus" said Wendel; Scholdtz noted Sweden would 
have "real trouble" with such a move by Lukashenko.  The 
suspension of sanctions would legally permit President 
Lukashenko to attend the May 7 launch of the Eastern 
Partnership, but he has not yet been invited.  Wendel said 
the "over-focus" on Belarus is "uncomfortable" for the 
Czechs, who will likely try to push further discussion to the 
GYMNICH. 
 
-- On Montenegrin EU accession, Scholdtz noted reluctance 
from two member states (Netherlands, which has "enlargement 
fatigue," and Germany, which fears opening up its borders to 
other workers from the Western Balkans).  He said Sweden 
shares the analysis that Montenegro will not be ready for EU 
accession in the near future, Scholdtz stated that it is 
still important for the Commission to put forward an avis at 
this time.  Wendel said some member states want to treat the 
Western Balkans as a group regarding accession.  EU consensus 
is "unlikely" said Wendel, and the Czechs might push further 
discussion to the GYMNICH. 
 
-- Discussion of Bosnia and Herzegovina will focus on ways to 
strengthen EU presence in BiH;  prolonging the ALTHEA mission 
and fine-tuning its mandate; and double-hatting the EU 
Special Representative as both representative and head of the 
EU mission.  Sweden supports the Austrian candidate Inzko, 
but wants the decision to be made with Washington and Moscow. 
 
STOCKHOLM 00000170  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
 
-- Macedonia was removed from the agenda; the EU might issue 
a statement after the March 22 elections.  Moldova was also 
taken off the agenda. 
 
-- On Sudan, the Czech presidency just issued a statement on 
the ICC arrest warrant, so further discussion is unlikely, 
according to Wendel.  Scholdtz predicted that the evolving EU 
position would be very heavily influenced by what the U.S. 
says and does. 
 
GYMNICH -- Middle East 
---------------------- 
 
-- On March 15, the Troika will meet with Egypt and the 
Palestinian Authority to receive an update on the 
Israeli-Palestinian talks.  Egypt requested the meeting, but 
Jordan declined the invitation.  The Swedes will not 
participate, Wendel said. 
 
¶2. (U) Post will follow up on GYMNICH topics involving Iran 
and the Middle East with MFA Middle East experts later this 
week and report septel. 
SILVERMAN