Well-attended seminar on anti-corruption efforts
On Thursday 10 September 2009, the Government Offices, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Transparency International Sweden and the Anti-Corruption Institute held a seminar entitled 'The fight against corruption for global development - using the UN Convention against Corruption as a tool for change'. The focus was on the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the first global convention against international corruption. The Rosenbad Conference Centre was packed to the rafters with an audience representing government agencies, independent organisations and the business sector. Among the speakers were Dimitri Vlassis from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Anne-Charlotte Malm, Assistant Director-General of Sida.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt met Foreign Minister Celso Amorim of Brazil
On Tuesday 6 October the Swedish and Brazilian foreign ministers, Carl Bildt and Celso Amorim, met for bilateral talks in connection with the summit meeting between the EU and Brazil.
Meeting of EU troika and Australian foreign ministers
On 8 October a meeting of foreign ministers took place in Stockholm between the EU and Australia, led by Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt. The Australian delegation was headed by Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith, who is visiting Sweden for the first time. Also taking part in the meeting was Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
Ewa Björling and Miguel Jorge take part in Business Summit
While President Lula and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt are meeting at Rosenbad, a Business Summit is being held with representatives of the Swedish, European and Brazilian business sectors. Trade Ministers Ewa Björling and Miguel Jorge are participating in this Summit.
Meeting of Nordic-Baltic State Secretaries in Reykjavik
On 6-7 October, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Frank Belfrage will take part in the annual meeting of Nordic-Baltic State Secretaries, which on this occasion will be held in Reykjavik. The agenda will include the EU Baltic Sea Strategy, the economic and financial crisis and administrative cooperation between the foreign ministries of the Nordic-Baltic countries.
Mikael Ståhl on the EU-Brazil Summit
The annual summit between the EU and Brazil takes place in Stockholm on 6 October. Mikael Ståhl, Brazil Desk Officer at the Americas Department, has had the task of coordinating the political ambitions of the EU and Brazil ahead of the summit.
Consulate-General in Kaliningrad closes visa section on 5 October
Following the Government's decision to close down the Consulate-General in Kaliningrad as of 31 October, responsibility for Schengen visas will be transferred to the Polish Consulate-General in Kaliningrad as of 5 October. On the same date, the Swedish Consulate-General in St Petersburg will take over activities related to consular assistance and advice, and passports and residence permits.
"Focus on the nuclear issue in further discussions with Iran"
"Iran must be prepared to take concrete measures so as to establish confidence in its assertion concerning the peaceful nature of its nuclear protocol. The focus is on the nuclear issue now, but we have a mutual interest in also discussing a much broader agenda," says Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt following a meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, held at the end of UN week in New York.
Climate issue on the agenda for Ban Ki-moon's visit to Sweden
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will visit Sweden on 1-2 October. During his visit he will meet Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson and the Speaker of the Riksdag, Per Westerberg.
Sweden represents the EU at UN negotiations in Buenos Aires
A Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is currently under way in Buenos Aires.
