Cablegate: Sweden Not Likely to Donate to Pakistan-Only

VZCZCXRO6619
OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSM #0835 3501537
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151537Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3975
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000835

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/PB TOWNSWICK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN AF PK SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN NOT LIKELY TO DONATE TO PAKISTAN-ONLY
DONORS CONFERENCE

REF: SECSTATE 129615

Emboff delivered reftel demarche regarding the proposed
rescheduling of the Pakistan Donors Conference to MFA South
Asia Desk Officer Katrin Mansson. Regarding proposed dates,
Mansson said an earlier conference would not likely result in
a Swedish donation because Sweden has narrowed its bilateral
foreign aid in South Asia to focus on Afghanistan. She
expressed support for the thrust of the funding initiative
insofar as it relates to civil society development in
Pakistan, and when pressed suggested that a more regional
focus that tied together India, Pakistan and Afghanistan
might make a Swedish donation more politically palatable.
Regardless, Sweden would be interested in participating as an
observer to any Pakistan donor conference. Mansson made a
point of noting that Sweden's engagement in the region would
be closely aligned with the EU efforts, rather than bilateral
Sweden-Pakistan engagement. She also noted that the upcoming
India-EU summit would be a priority for Sweden.
WOOD

© Scoop Media