VZCZCXRO3740
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHLO #3001 3371012
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 021012Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0542
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 0577
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 003001
SIPDIS
NOFORN
DEPART FOR SCA/FO, SCA/PB, AND EUR/ERA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ETRD PK SW UK
SUBJECT: EU/PAKISTAN: HMG REQUESTS USG INFLUENCE THE SWEDES
TO MAKE PAKISTAN A PRIORITY REF: LONDON 2853 Classified By: Political Counselor Rick Mills, reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C/NF) HMG wants to hold an EU-Pakistan Summit under the EU's Swedish presidency in the second half of 2009, but is
having trouble convincing the Swedes that a summit would add significant value to what the international community is
trying to accomplish in Pakistan, according to FCO Pakistan Team Leader Laura Hickey (protect). Hickey said HMG wants to
hold the summit as a mechanism for building momentum behind EU engagement in Pakistan and hopes that one of the
deliverables will be a trade deal (reftel). Hickey suggested that if the USG communicated to the Swedes the importance
the USG attaches to proactive engagement with Pakistan, it would be very helpful in convincing Stockholm. She noted that
the 2009 summits are being finalized this week (December 1 - 5) and that approaching the Swedes on Pakistan, if we chose
to do so, would have to happen as soon as possible.
2. (C/NF) By way of background, Hickey said HMG had recently spoke to the Swedish PM's State Secretary Lind, who said he
"wanted to be helpful," but was not convinced a summit added real value. Lind said the UK stood alone in the EU in
arguing for more engagement in Pakistan. Lind specifically asked if the USG were really concerned about the issue, and
noted that he had not heard anything on the topic, which is unusual for matters of import to the USG. Hickey noted that
UK Foreign Secretary Miliband planned to follow up with Swedish Foreign Secretary Bildt. Visit London's Classified
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