Cablegate: Swedish Response to Sudan Strategy

VZCZCXRO8647
OO RUEHIK
DE RUEHSM #0687 3081127
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 041127Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4845
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000687

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR S/USSES:OCLARK AND EUR/WE
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SU SW
SUBJECT: SWEDISH RESPONSE TO SUDAN STRATEGY

REF: STATE 109669

1. (U) Poloff shared reftel points with Fredrik Folkunger,
Desk Officer, Department of West Africa and the Horn of
Africa on November 3. Folkunger expressed enthusiasm for the
new U.S. Sudan strategy and emphasized that the Swedes "see
no real divergent opinions" in the text. Sweden supports
cooperation both on Darfur and CPA implementation and calls
for strengthening of the justice system, but they recognize
that the particular mechanism for justice should be in the
hands of the Sudanese. According to Folkunger, health and
education are main Swedish development priorities. Ahead of
elections next year, there is also interest in supporting a
safe electoral process. Current Swedish development
cooperation amounts to about $28 million and humanitarian
assistance is set at $38 million. This work is carried out
primarily in the South.

2. (U) Folkunger reiterated the continued interest, not only
by the Swedes but also by the EU, in hosting Special Envoy
Scott Gration at a Political and Security Council (PSC)
meeting in Brussels. Folkunger said that the Swedes will
reach out through their Embassy in Washington about arranging
such a visit.
BARZUN

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