Diplomatic corps met Government ministers
Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt invited ambassadors and chargés d'affaires from the 104 foreign embassies in Stockholm to an informal reception at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs last week. The aim was to bring together the Government - particularly the new ministers and the diplomatic corps.
Sweden actively working to abolish capital punishment
Sunday 10 October is the World Day against the Death Penalty. Sweden is working in a variety of contexts to abolish capital punishment around the world. In the UN General Assembly, the EU and a number of states from other parts of the world are pushing to gain approval this autumn for a resolution against the death penalty. Today, the EU and the Council of Europe issued a joint statement in which they reiterate their opposition to capital punishment.
"The death penalty is a cruel and deeply inhumane punishment. Giving someone the right to take another person's life is contrary to the most fundamental humanitarian principles. This is why Sweden has long been working actively to see the death penalty abolished in every country around the world," says Hans Dahlgren, Sweden's Human Rights Ambassador, in an interview.
Greater vigilance when travelling in Europe
In light of the heightened terrorist alert in Europe, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs urges Swedish travellers to exercise greater vigilance and due caution. You should be on your guard in public places, in and around public buildings, at tourist attractions, on public transport, at markets, in shopping centres and other places where large crowds gather. You should also keep updated on developments in the place you are visiting and closely follow the security instructions issued by the local authorities.
Swedish Embassy in Moldova opened by Minister for Foreign Affairs
In a formal ceremony on 30 September, Sweden's new Embassy in Moldova's capital city Chisinau was opened. Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, Moldova's interim President Mihai Ghimpu and Deputy Prime Minister Iurie Leanca were all present.
"Moldova is an important piece of the European puzzle we are trying to put together for peace, security and better opportunities for economic and social development," Mr Bildt said at the opening.
In a glass carriage to the Royal Palace
For foreign ambassadors to be able to perform their duties they must present their letters of credence to HM Carl XVI Gustav at the Royal Palace. This formal ceremony does not pass by unnoticed - the newly appointed ambassadors are met outside the Ministry for Foreign Affairs by a group of awaiting horse-drawn carriages. The short journey to the Royal Palace is a tradition that takes place some eight or nine times a year. Today, the ambassadors from Honduras, India, Japan and Tanzania presented their letters of credence.
Sweden upholds freedom of expression
Sweden yesterday delivered its address at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly. Sweden's Ambassador to the UN, Mårten Grunditz, emphasised in his address that UN Member States have a shared responsibility to tackle today's global problems. Safeguarding the environment, democracy and human rights is of the utmost importance. Freedom of expression was raised as a particularly important issue. In today's information society, countries must allow their citizens to play an active role in public debate.
Carl Bildt to Moldova and Ukraine
Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt will visit Chisinau on 30 September to take part in a Friends of Moldova meeting. During his visit, Mr Bildt and his Moldovan colleague, Minister of Foreign Affairs Iurie Leanca, will also inaugurate the new embassy in Chisinau.
On 1-3 October Mr Bildt will take part in the Yalta European Strategy annual meeting on the Crimean peninsular. He will also be meeting with Ukrainian Minister for Foreign Affairs Kostyantyn Gryshchenko and EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fûle.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs at Gothenburg Book Fair
The theme of this year's book fair is Africa. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) will have a stand at the Fair's International Square. On the main stage, we will present current Swedish Africa policy. Ambassador Sten Rylander will talk about his 30 years of working with Africa and we will highlight the Kosmopolit project, which is the Government's special initiative to harness the unique skills and knowledge of people born abroad to increase foreign trade, create more jobs and generate higher growth. The MFA is also co-organising a breakfast seminar on the Millennium Development Goals: 5 years to go - do we have time to halve poverty?
Visit us at the International Square at the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre in Gothenburg!
International Press Centre open on election day
The more than 200 accredited foreign journalists in Sweden are entitled to use the International Press Centre as their workplace. Although most of the journalists were to be found at one of the parties' election night events, most of them called in at the International Press Centre at some stage during the evening. At 8 pm, when the major post-election polls were presented, they all gathered in front of the TV.
Foreign reporting has focused a great deal on Sweden's first ever experience of bloc politics, the historic second term of government for the Alliance and, of course, the Sweden Democrats winning seats in the Riksdag.
Gunilla Carlsson to New York for UN high-level meeting on Millennium Development Goals on 20-22 September
Sweden is working actively to ensure that the UN Millennium Development Goals are achieved. At the UN high-level meeting on the Millennium Development Goals in New York, Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson will particularly highlight shortcomings concerning MDG 5 on maternal health.
