VZCZCXYZ0008
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSM #0593 2410704
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 280704Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3707
INFO RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV PRIORITY 0012
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 1217
UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000593
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PRELSW PGOV UK SW
SUBJECT: SWEDISH KING TO VISIT KYIV 30 SEPTEMBER
1. King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia will pay a state
visit to Ukraine on 30 September to 3 October. A Swedish
business delegation will also visit during this time.
2. The visit was in the planning stages from early 2007, but
was delayed by domestic turbulence in Ukrainian politics,
according to MFA contacts. Sweden's upcoming EU Presidency
and strong support for Ukraine's EU accession will be
discussed, the MFA sources. Ukraine has asked for a ceremony
commemorating the 300th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava
(in which Peter the Great destroyed a joint Swedish/Ukrainian
army and Sweden's imperial ambitions). The Swedes demurred
on this suggestion, in order not to antagonize Russia in the
current sensitive environment.
WOOD