State Department cable concerning the government of Sweden releasing "Report on the State of Human Rights Worldwide and in the U.S." The Report covers the Israel/Palestinian conflict and is critical of Israel. The Swedish Foreign Minister was also singling out Turkey, Zimbabwe, China and Colombia as countries with human rights issues. The report is particularly critical of U.S. Handling of Detainees at the U.S. base in Guantanamo
%)s Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Page: 1
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 2003STOCKH00176 Channel: n/a
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1144
RELEASED IN FULL
02 OF 02
PAGE 01 STOCKH 00176 241618Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 DOBE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 UTED-00
VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 I0-00 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 SS-00 STR-00
TEST-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 PRM-00 DRL-02
G-00 SAS-00 /007W
2B1D8F 241618Z /07
O 241415Z JAN 03
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2790
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000176
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PGOV, PTER, SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN RELEASES REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN U.S.
SHE URGED ISRAEL TO "IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR THE
PALESTINIANS...AND FIND A TWO-STATE SOLUTION." DURING THE
PRESS CONFERENCE, FM LINDH ALSO SINGLED OUT TURKEY,
ZIMBABWE, CHINA AND COLOMBIA AS COUNTRIES OF PARTICULAR
CONCERN. ANNE DISSMORR, SWEDEN'S AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY, ALSO
SPOKE, UNDERLINING THE IMPORTANCE OF RECENT POLITICAL
REFORMS: "THERE WERE A NUMBER OF SYMBOLIC REFORMS, SUCH AS
THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY AND CERTAIN REFORMS
DEALING WITH THE FIGHT AGAINST TORTURE." KRISTINA SVENSSON,
UNCLASSIFIED
• PAGE 02 STOCKH 00176 02 OF 02 241618Z
SWEDEN'S AMBASSADOR TO ZIMBABWE, HAD A PESSIMISTIC
ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THAT COUNTRY AND SAID
OPPRESSION WAS ON THE RISE. "WE THOUGHT THAT AFTER THE
MARCH ELECTIONS, THE SITUATION WOULD IMPROVE...BUT IT
HASN'T."
COMMENT
9.
THE GOS CONSIDERS HUMAN RIGHTS TO BE A CORE ELEMENT OF
ITS FOREIGN POLICY, AND FM ANNA LINDH HAS DEMONSTRATED A
STRONG PERSONAL COMMITMENT ON THE ISSUE. THE SWEDISH
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 1
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY: SHARON E AHMAD
DATE/CASE ID: 26 OCT 2004 200303827 DOS-002312
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 2
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 2003STOCKH00176 Channel: n/a
DECISION TO PUBLISH ITS PREVIOUSLY INTERNAL REPORTS IS VERY
MUCH IN KEEPING WITH SWEDEN'S AMBITIONS TO BE SEEN AS ONE OF
THE FOREMOST HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.
HOWEVER, CRITICS CHARGE THAT THE NEW PUBLIC REPORTS ARE
"TOOTHLESS" AND WATER DOWN THE MUCH MORE CRITICAL
ASSESSMENTS MADE IN PREVIOUS CLASSIFIED REPORTS. ALSO,
SINCE THIS IS THE MFA'S FIRST ATTEMPT TO PUBLISH A
COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT, THERE ARE WIDE VARIATIONS IN STYLE,
LANGUAGE, AND FOCUS DEPENDING ON THE PERSPECTIVES OF THE
INDIVIDUAL DESK OFFICERS WHO WROTE THE NATIONAL REPORTS.
THE REPORTS WERE ALSO ONLY PUBLISHED IN SWEDISH, WHICH
GREATLY LIMITS THEIR UTILITY AS A "GLOBAL REFERENCE SOURCE"
ON HUMAN RIGHTS. REACTION HAS ALSO NOT BEEN UNIFORMLY
POSITIVE. A NUMBER OF EU MEMBERS ARE QUITE MIFFED THAT
SWEDEN HAS ARROGATED TO ITSELF THE ROLE OF PASSING JUDGMENT
ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS AND PRACTICES OF ITS FELLOW EU
PARTNERS.
ANDERSON
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 STOCKH 00176 02 OF 02 241618Z
UNCLASSIFIED
« END OF DOCUMENT »
@WOASYS@@@CONCATENATED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1143
PAGE 01 STOCKH 00176 01 OF 02 241618Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 UTED-00
VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 10-00 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 SS-00 STR-00
TEST-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 PRM-00 DRL-02
G-00 SAS-00 /007W
2B1D75 241618Z /07
O 241415Z JAN 03
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2789
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000176
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PGOV, PTER, SW
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 2
DOS-002313
)
UNCLASSIFIED
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 3
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 2003STOCKH00176 Channel: n/a
SUBJECT: SWEDEN RELEASES REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN U.S.
SUMMARY
1. THE SWEDISH GOVERNMENT PUBLISHED ITS FIRST REPORT ON
THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD ON JANUARY 13.
THE REPORTS, TRADITIONALLY KEPT CONFIDENTIAL, ARE PART OF AN
EFFORT TO DOCUMENT HUMAN RIGHTS WORLDWIDE. THE REPORT ON
THE U.S. CONCLUDES THAT THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE
COUNTRY "ON THE WHOLE IS GOOD," BUT IT IDENTIFIES THE DEATH
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 STOCKH 00176 01 OF 02 241618Z
PENALTY, POLICE BRUTALITY, AND OVERCROWDED PRISONS AS AREAS
OF CONCERN. THE REPORT ALSO RAISES CONCERNS THAT THE U.S.-
LED WAR ON TERRORISM HAS LED TO A CURTAILMENT OF CITIZENS'
RIGHTS. THE REPORT IS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL OF U.S.
HANDLING OF DETAINEES AT THE U.S. BASE IN GUANTANAMO. END
SUMMARY.
REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS WORLDWIDE
2.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE GOS HAS ISSUED A COMPREHENSIVE
SURVEY OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE SWEDISH MFA HAS COMPILED
ANNUAL CLASSIFIED REPORTS ON THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN
MOST COUNTRIES. THIS YEAR THE REPORTS WERE PUBLIC, IN AN
EFFORT TO ENHANCE THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON THE STATE
OF HUMAN RIGHTS GLOBALLY. "IN TODAY'S TROUBLED WORLD, HUMAN
RIGHTS RISK BECOMING A PERIPHERAL ISSUE, BOTH IN THE
INTERNATIONAL DEBATE AND IN INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES... MY HOPE
IS THAT THIS WILL HELP INCREASE KNOWLEDGE, STIMULATE PUBLIC
DEBATE AND POINT TO WAYS OF IMPROVING THE HUMAN RIGHTS
SITUATION," SAID SWEDISH FOREIGN MINISTER ANNA LINDH.
3.
THE REPORTS EXAMINE THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION WITH
REGARD TO CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL
RIGHTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UN CENTRAL CHARTER ON HUMAN
. RIGHTS.
REPORT ON THE U.S.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 STOCKH 00176 01 OF 02 241618Z
4. IN A PRESS CONFERENCE INTRODUCING THE REPORTS ON
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 3
)
DOS-002314
UNCLASSIFIED
Current Class:' UNCLASSIFIEuPage: 4
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 2003STOCKH00176 Channel: n/a
JANUARY 13, FM ANNA LINDH SEEMED TO BE EXPRESSING CONCERN
THAT THE WAR ON TERRORISM AND THE POSSIBILITY OF CONFLICT IN
IRAQ MIGHT BE PUSHING HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS INTO THE
BACKGROUND. "MY IMPRESSION IS THAT AFTER WE STARTED THE
VERY IMPORTANT WORK AGAINST TERRORISM -- WHICH I WOULD LIKE
TO STRESS IS VERY IMPORTANT -- WE CAN SEE THAT HUMAN RIGHTS
SOMETIMES DO HAVE A BIG PROBLEM" GETTING ATTENTION, SAID FM
LINDH
5. THE REPORT ON THE U.S. CONCLUDES THAT "THE STATE OF
HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE U.S. ON THE WHOLE HAS TO BE REGARDED AS
GOOD." NEVERTHELESS, IT HIGHLIGHTS ISSUES OF CONCERN,
INCLUDING:
---FAILURE TO RATIFY IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS
INSTRUMENTS.
---THE DEATH PENALTY.
---POLICE BRUTALITY AND OVERCROWDED PRISONS.
---RESTRICTIONS OF CITIZENS' FREEDOM AND RIGHTS, THROUGH,
FOR EXAMPLE, THE USA PATRIOT ACT OF 2001.
6. ADDRESSING RESTRICTIONS OF CITIZENS' FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS
IN PARTICULAR, THE REPORT NOTES THAT, "THE FIGHT AGAINST
TERRORISM HAS BROUGHT AN INTENSIFIED DEBATE IN RESTRICTIONS
OF CITIZEN'S FREEDOM AND RIGHTS. THE STATE'S AUTHORITY TO
BUG AND DEPRIVE LIBERTY HAS INCREASED THROUGH HARSHER LAWS
(USA PATRIOT ACT OF 2001). ABOVE ALL, THE TREATMENT OF
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 STOCKH 00176 01 OF 02 241618Z
IMMIGRANTS' LEGAL RIGHTS HAS ATTRACTED MUCH ATTENTION.
ALSO, TREATMENT OF AMERICAN CITIZENS' HAS BEEN QUESTIONED.
THE MATTER OF PRINCIPAL IS THE BALANCE BETWEEN NATIONAL
SECURITY AND THE PROTECTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHTS."
7.. REGARDING THE GUANTANAMO DETAINEES, THE REPORT STATES
"IN NOVEMBER OF 2001, THE PRESIDENT DECIDED TO ESTABLISH
CERTAIN MILITARY TRIBUNALS...THIS TYPE OF AD HOC TRIBUNALS
HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN USED IN WARTIME SITUATIONS. THE
DECISION WAS MET WITH HEAVY CRITICISM...IN CONNECTION WITH
THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN, THE USA TRANSFERRED MORE THAN 600
FOREIGN NATIONALS TO THE AMERICAN MILITARY BASE IN
GUANTANAMO, CUBA. DURING THE YEAR, THE SITUATION OF THE
PRISONERS HAS BEEN RAISED BY SEVERAL COUNTRIES, INCLUDING
THEIR STATUS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW. THE INTERNATIONAL RED
CROSS HAS A PERMANENT PRESENCE IN GUANTANAMO."
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 4
DOS-002315
UNCLASSIFIED
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 5
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 2003STOCKH00176 Channel: n/a
HEAVY CRITICISM OF TREATMENT OF PALESTINIANS
8. THE COUNTRY'REPORT ON ISRAEL WAS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL
OF THE GOI'S TREATMENT OF PALESTINIANS. "EVEN THOUGH MANY
COUNTRIES HAVE MADE PROGRESS ON HUMAN RIGHTS, MAJOR PROBLEMS
STILL REMAIN, NOT LEAST IN THE MIDDLE EAST," SAID FM LINDH.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1143
PAGE 01 STOCKH 00176 01 OF 02 241618Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 UTED-00
VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 10-00 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 01C-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 • SCT-00 SP-00 SS-00 STR-00
TEST-00 •TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 PRM-00 DRL-02
G-00 SAS-00 . /007W
2B1D75 241618Z /07
O 241415Z JAN 03
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2789
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000176
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PGOV, PTER, SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN RELEASES REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN U.S.
SUMMARY
1. THE SWEDISH GOVERNMENT PUBLISHED ITS FIRST REPORT ON
THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD ON JANUARY 13.
THE REPORTS, TRADITIONALLYIKEPT CONFIDENTIAL, ARE PART OF AN
EFFORT TO DOCUMENT HUMAN RIGHTS WORLDWIDE. THE REPORT ON
THE U.S. CONCLUDES THAT THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE
COUNTRY "ON THE WHOLE IS GOOD," BUT IT IDENTIFIES THE DEATH
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 STOCKH 00176 01 OF 02 241618Z
PENALTY, POLICE BRUTALITY, AND OVERCROWDED PRISONS AS AREAS
OF CONCERN. THE REPORT ALSO RAISES CONCERNS THAT THE U.S.-
LED WAR ON TERRORISM HAS LED TO A CURTAILMENT OF CITIZENS'
RIGHTS. THE REPORT IS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL OF U.S.
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 5
DOS-002316
UNCLASSIFIED
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 2003STOCKH00176
Page: 6
Channel: n/a
HANDLING OF DETAINEES AT THE U.S. BASE IN GUANTANAMO. END
SUMMARY.
REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS WORLDWIDE
2.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE GOS HAS ISSUED A COMPREHENSIVE
SURVEY OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE SWEDISH MFA HAS COMPILED
ANNUAL CLASSIFIED REPORTS ON THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN
MOST COUNTRIES. THIS YEAR THE REPORTS WERE PUBLIC, IN AN
EFFORT TO ENHANCE THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON THE STATE
OF HUMAN RIGHTS GLOBALLY. "IN TODAY'S TROUBLED WORLD, HUMAN
RIGHTS RISK BECOMING A PERIPHERAL ISSUE, BOTH IN THE
INTERNATIONAL DEBATE AND IN INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES... MY HOPE
IS THAT THIS WILL HELP INCREASE KNOWLEDGE, STIMULATE PUBLIC
DEBATE AND POINT TO WAYS OF IMPROVING THE HUMAN RIGHTS
SITUATION," SAID SWEDISH FOREIGN MINISTER ANNA LINDH.
3.
THE REPORTS EXAMINE THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION WITH
REGARD TO CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL
RIGHTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UN CENTRAL CHARTER ON HUMAN
RIGHTS.
REPORT ON THE U.S.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 STOCKH 00176 01 OF 02 241618Z
4.
IN A PRESS CONFERENCE INTRODUCING THE REPORTS ON
JANUARY 13, FM ANNA LINDH SEEMED TO BE EXPRESSING CONCERN
THAT THE WAR ON TERRORISM AND THE POSSIBILITY OF CONFLICT IN
IRAQ MIGHT BE PUSHING HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS INTO THE
BACKGROUND. "MY IMPRESSION IS THAT AFTER WE STARTED THE
VERY IMPORTANT WORK AGAINST TERRORISM -- WHICH I WOULD LIKE
TO STRESS IS VERY IMPORTANT -- WE CAN SEE THAT HUMAN RIGHTS
SOMETIMES DO HAVE A BIG PROBLEM" GETTING ATTENTION, SAID FM
LINDH
5.
THE REPORT ON THE U.S. CONCLUDES THAT "THE STATE OF
HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE U.S. ON THE WHOLE HAS TO BE REGARDED AS
GOOD." NEVERTHELESS, IT HIGHLIGHTS ISSUES OF CONCERN,
INCLUDING:
---FAILURE TO RATIFY IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS
INSTRUMENTS.
---THE DEATH PENALTY.
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 6
DOS-002317
•) UNCLASSIFIED
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 7
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 2003STOCKH00176 Channel: n/a
---POLICE BRUTALITY AND OVERCROWDED PRISONS.
---RESTRICTIONS OF CITIZENS' FREEDOM AND RIGHTS, THROUGH,
FOR EXAMPLE, THE USA PATRIOT ACT OF 2001.
6. ADDRESSING RESTRICTIONS OF CITIZENS' FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS
IN PARTICULAR, THE REPORT NOTES THAT, "THE FIGHT AGAINST
TERRORISM HAS BROUGHT AN INTENSIFIED DEBATE IN RESTRICTIONS
OF CITIZEN'S FREEDOM AND RIGHTS. THE STATE'S AUTHORITY TO
BUG AND DEPRIVE LIBERTY HAS INCREASED THROUGH HARSHER LAWS
(USA PATRIOT ACT OF 2001). ABOVE ALL, THE TREATMENT OF
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 STOCKH 00176 01 OF 02 241618Z
IMMIGRANTS' LEGAL RIGHTS HAS ATTRACTED MUCH ATTENTION.
ALSO, TREATMENT OF AMERICAN CITIZENS' HAS BEEN QUESTIONED.
THE MATTER OF PRINCIPAL IS THE BALANCE BETWEEN NATIONAL
SECURITY AND THE PROTECTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHTS."
7.
REGARDING THE GUANTANAMO DETAINEES, THE REPORT STATES
"IN NOVEMBER OF 2001, THE PRESIDENT DECIDED TO ESTABLISH
CERTAIN MILITARY TRIBUNALS...THIS TYPE OF AD HOC TRIBUNALS
HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN USED IN WARTIME SITUATIONS. THE
DECISION WAS MET WITH HEAVY CRITICISM...IN CONNECTION WITH
THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN, THE USA TRANSFERRED MORE THAN 600
FOREIGN NATIONALS TO THE AMERICAN MILITARY BASE IN
GUANTANAMO, CUBA. DURING THE YEAR, THE SITUATION OF THE
PRISONERS HAS BEEN RAISED BY SEVERAL COUNTRIES, INCLUDING
THEIR STATUS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW. THE INTERNATIONAL RED
CROSS HAS A PERMANENT PRESENCE IN GUANTANAMO."
HEAVY CRITICISM OF TREATMENT OF PALESTINIANS
8.
THE COUNTRY REPORT ON ISRAEL WAS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL
OF THE GOI'S TREATMENT OF PALESTINIANS. "EVEN THOUGH MANY
COUNTRIES HAVE MADE PROGRESS ON HUMAN RIGHTS, MAJOR PROBLEMS
STILL REMAIN, NOT LEAST IN THE MIDDLE EAST," SAID FM LINDH.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1144
PAGE 01 STOCKH 00176 02 OF 02 241618Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 UTED-00
VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 10-00 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 01C-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 7
DOS-002318
UNCLASSIFIED
•) UNCLASSIFIED Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 8
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 2003STOCKH00176 Channel: n/a
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 SS-00 STR-00
TEST-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 FMB-00 PRM-00 DRL-02
G-00 SAS-00 /007W
2B1D8F 241618Z /07
O 241415Z JAN 03
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2790
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000176
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PGOV, PTER, SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN RELEASES REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN U.S.
SHE URGED ISRAEL TO "IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR THE
PALESTINIANS...AND FIND A TWO-STATE SOLUTION." DURING THE
PRESS CONFERENCE, FM LINDH ALSO SINGLED OUT TURKEY,
ZIMBABWE, CHINA AND COLOMBIA AS COUNTRIES OF PARTICULAR
CONCERN. ANNE DISSMORR, SWEDEN'S AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY, ALSO
SPOKE, UNDERLINING THE IMPORTANCE OF RECENT POLITICAL
REFORMS: "THERE WERE A NUMBER OF SYMBOLIC REFORMS, SUCH AS
THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY AND CERTAIN REFORMS
DEALING WITH THE FIGHT AGAINST TORTURE." KRISTINA SVENSSON,
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 STOCKH 00176 02 OF 02 241618Z
SWEDEN'S AMBASSADOR TO ZIMBABWE, HAD A PESSIMISTIC
ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THAT COUNTRY AND SAID
OPPRESSION WAS ON THE RISE. "WE THOUGHT THAT AFTER THE
MARCH ELECTIONS, THE SITUATION WOULD IMPROVE..1BUT IT
HASN'T."
COMMENT
9. THE GOS CONSIDERS HUMAN RIGHTS TO BE A CORE ELEMENT OF
ITS FOREIGN POLICY, AND FM ANNA LINDH HAS DEMONSTRATED A
STRONG PERSONAL .COMMITMENT ON THE ISSUE. THE SWEDISH
DECISION TO PUBLISH ITS PREVIOUSLY INTERNAL REPORTS IS VERY
MUCH IN KEEPING WITH SWEDEN'S AMBITIONS TO BE SEEN AS ONE OF
THE FOREMOST HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.
HOWEVER, CRITICS CHARGE THAT THE NEW PUBLIC REPORTS ARE
"TOOTHLESS" AND WATER DOWN THE MUCH MORE CRITICAL
ASSESSMENTS MADE IN PREVIOUS CLASSIFIED REPORTS. ALSO,
SINCE THIS IS THE MFA'S FIRST ATTEMPT TO PUBLISH A
COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT, THERE ARE WIDE VARIATIONS IN STYLE,
LANGUAGE, AND FOCUS DEPENDING ON THE PERSPECTIVES OF THE
INDIVIDUAL DESK OFFICERS WHO WROTE THE NATIONAL REPORTS.
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 8
DOS-002319
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 9
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 2003STOCKH00176 Channel: n/a
THE REPORTS WERE ALSO ONLY PUBLISHED IN SWEDISH, WHICH
GREATLY LIMITS THEIR UTILITY AS A "GLOBAL REFERENCE SOURCE" ON HUMAN RIGHTS. REACTION HAS ALSO NOT BEEN UNIFORMLY POSITIVE. A NUMBER OF EU MEMBERS ARE QUITE MIFFED THAT SWEDEN HAS ARROGATED TO ITSELF THE ROLE OF PASSING JUDGMENT ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS AND PRACTICES OF ITS FELLOW EU PARTNERS.
ANDERSON
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 STOCKH 00176 02 OF 02 241618Z
UNCLASSIFIED
« END OF DOCUMENT »
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 9
DOS-002320