Press conference with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt
Today, 12th December, there will be a press conference with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt regarding yesterday events.
The press conference will be webcasted.
Government to raise contribution to low-income countries in Africa
Today, the Government decided to contribute over SEK 2 billion to the African Development Fund (ADF).
"The need for basic infrastructure, above all, but also better conditions for the private sector, is substantial in most African countries. Sweden's contribution will strengthen the ADF, ensuring that measures are more effective and can strategically meet the needs of recipient countries in these areas," says Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson.
Carl Bildt visits Serbia and Moldova
On Tuesday 7 December, Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt is travelling to the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, where he will meet the country's President Boris Tadic over an informal dinner in the evening. They will discuss Serbia's EU-oriented reforms and other issues. On Wednesday Mr Bildt will meet Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic.
Unimpressive results from OSCE summit
The OSCE summit in Kazakhstan ended on Thursday evening. At a press conference, the final document that the 56 member countries had agreed on was presented. In the hours leading up to this, Sweden, the United States and others had argued in the negotiations for formulations about human rights, the frozen conflicts in Georgia and Moldova, and other issues to be included.
"We ended up with a short document with the name Commemorative Declaration - but this is a long way from the ambitions, the clarity and the commitments that used to characterise cooperation in the OSCE," wrote Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt in his blog.
Minister for Integration to award prize to human rights activist
Government Offices representatives will be taking part in this year´s Human Rights Days in Örebro on 15-16 November. Minister for Integration Erik Ullenhag will be awarding this year´s Per Anger prize to human rights advocate Elena Urlaeva from Uzbekistan. At the Ministry for Foreign Affairs stand, national and international human rights experts will be on hand to answer questions and engage in conversation. Erik Ullenhag will be at the stand for part of the afternoon on Monday 15 November.
"State-building in Afghanistan requires the participation of women"
This comment was made by Gunilla Carlsson at the International Conference on Afghanistan yesterday. The conference was organised by the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SAK) and the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) and brought together international experts on Afghanistan. The Government decided recently to grant a further SEK 40 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
Gunilla Carlsson meets Bosnia and Herzegovina´s Minister for Human Rights and Refugees
Today, Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson met Bosnia and Herzegovina´s Minister for Human Rights and Refugees Safet Halilovic. Sweden engages in extensive development cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aim of this cooperation is to promote democratic, equitable and sustainable development, and to improve the prospects for closer EU ties for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sweden has adopted a new strategy for development cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2011-2014. At the meeting, Ms Carlsson confirmed Sweden´s support for Bosnia and Herzegovina´s EU integration and stressed the need for the country to implement necessary reforms, not least when it comes to aligning its legislation with the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Tomorrow, Mr Halilovic will meet Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström.
ISAF Bill adopted
On Thursday, the Government adopted a Bill to the Riksdag on continued Swedish participation in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF). The Government is seeking the approval of the Riksdag for an extended mandate until the end of December 2011. It is proposed that the planned Swedish military operation on the ground in Afghanistan consist of approximately 500 people in 2011. At lunchtime, Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt held a press conference at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm.
"Sweden should take an active role in realising the objective of Afghan security forces that are able to lead and implement operations in all provinces by the end of 2014," says Mr Bildt.
Iceland: The Nordic Council under way
Minister for Trade Ewa Björling and Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt are currently taking part in the Nordic Council session in Reykjavik, Iceland. The session began on Tuesday with a summit between all Nordic prime ministers, followed by a meeting of foreign ministers on Wednesday. Dr Björling, who is the Government's new Minister for Nordic Affairs, also met her colleagues from the other Nordic countries on Wednesday. Among other things, she wants to see more Nordic cooperation within the EU.
"The Nordic countries have a great deal in common when it comes to globalisation, integration and increased cooperation in the area of tourism,î says Dr Björling.
In connection with the meeting of foreign ministers, a joint statement was also made concerning Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani.
Carl Bildt to visit Oslo and Rejkjavik
Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt will visit Oslo on Tuesday 2 November to take part in a Northern Dimension ministerial meeting. The Northern Dimension is a framework for cooperation between the European Union, Iceland, Russia and Norway, focusing on partnerships in north-western Russia, the Barents Region, the Baltic Sea and the Arctic. The meeting will focus on cross-border cooperation. On Wednesday 3 November, the Minister for Foreign Affairs will participate in the Nordic Council Session in Reykjavik.
