VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSM #0361 1631408
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 121408Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4419

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000361 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SECSTATE FOR EUR/PPD, EUR/NB, EUR/PA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PINS PTER SW
SUBJECT: POSITIVE SWEDISH REACTIONS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA'S 
CAIRO SPEECH 
 
REF: SECSTATE 55334 
 
¶1. (U) On Thursday, June 4, Embassy Stockholm hosted a lunch 
for key Muslim contacts to watch President Obama's speech to 
the Muslim world and discuss their initial thoughts and 
reactions. 
 
¶2. (U) In general, the speech was well received by the 
Swedish Muslims.  The guests highlighted appreciation for the 
sense of respect President Obama conveyed as he spoke of the 
history of great achievements from Muslim majority countries. 
 The President's use of quotations from the Koran was also 
well-received.  One of the participants, a prominent Imam, 
said he believed the speech was a "bridge-builder of 
historical proportions" to the Muslim communities around the 
world, who believe they are all too often stereotyped. 
Another participant reflected a sense of hope that the 
President's words will really be turned into action, noting 
that if, in two years' time, he can travel to the United 
States and not feel the sense of discrimination and suspicion 
that he felt when he went to the United States two years ago, 
President Obama will have succeeded.  The biggest concern 
from the group was that there would be a negative reaction in 
the Muslim world from what they perceived as a down-playing 
of Israeli actions in Gaza. 
 
¶3. (U) The Swedes believe the speech will increase the 
prospects for Turkey becoming a member of the European Union. 
 Foreign Minister Carl Bildt expressed his appreciation and 
stated that the speech was of "strategic significance for 
Turkey joining the European Union and that it sends a 
powerful signal to the rest of the world." 
 
¶4. (U) The media also reported favorably on the speech, 
paying particular attention to the statements by the 
President that he would personally work to achieve a 
two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and 
his condemnation of the construction of new Israeli 
settlements - a statement welcomed across the Swedish 
political landscape.  However, while the speech was described 
as rhetorically excellent, some observers skeptically noted 
that success would be determined by how the words would be 
translated into results.  Most outlets noted that this was 
clearly a historical new beginning in the U.S. relationship 
with the Muslim world. 
 
¶5. (U) Post plans to host a second viewing of the speech 
later in June, with a larger audience of Muslim contacts. 
SILVERMAN