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On Tuesday 26 January the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Living History Forum will jointly hold a conference to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Stockholm Declaration on the Holocaust. The speakers include Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt and Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Störe.
The conference will be in English and will be webcast.
"Communication and coordination are fundamental"
In normal circumstances Tomas Brundin works with strategic policy relating to democracy and civil society at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Ten years ago he lived in Haiti and for two years led the work of building up a regional office for the Lutheran World Federations development cooperation in the country. Today, 21 January, Tomas is travelling back to Haiti to participate in relief operations after the earthquake.
Stockholm China Forum
On 17-18 January, the Stockholm China Forum will hold its sixth meeting for transatlantic dialogue on and with China. Climate change after Copenhagen, the global economic recovery and China's security policy are some of the main issues that will be discussed at the meeting.
- I foresee a growing pressure on China to revalue its currency and a risk that the US will strive to maintain a weak dollar, says Bruce Stokes.
Sweden to open ten embassies and close six
Today the Government announced a number of changes in the Swedish Foreign Service. Ten embassies will be opened and six closed.
"Within the framework of the close cooperation that exists between the EU Member States, there is scope for developing new forms for maintaining bilateral contacts in future. It is positive that we can use our resources to strengthen Sweden's presence in a number of nearby countries," says Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt.
Sweden contributes additional humanitarian support to Haiti
Sweden's support for the emergency situation in Haiti now amounts to SEK 180 million. In addition, Sweden will disburse its entire annual contribution of SEK 425 million to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). The Fund is in urgent need of resources after being nearly emptied as a result of the Haiti disaster. This was announced by Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson today at the extra meeting of EU development ministers in Brussels.
Powerful earthquake in Haiti
A powerful earthquake occurred in Haiti on Tuesday 12 January, in the late evening, Swedish time. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) is aware of about ten Swedes on the island. There are only a few tourists in the area. At present, there are no reports of injured Swedes.
For EU citizens in Haiti, evacuation from the country is being arranged by Spain as holder of the EU Presidency. Spain calls on all EU citizens who want to be evacuated to make their way as soon as possible to the logistics base of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in Port-au-Prince, where the evacuation is being coordinated and where some accommodation is also available.
The MFA is following developments in Haiti closely, both from Stockholm and from embassies in the region. Sweden has an honorary consul in Haiti. In other respects, relations are managed via the Office of Swedish Ambassadors Stationed in Stockholm.
In view of the earthquake disaster and its consequences, the MFA advises against all travel to the country. This advice applies until further notice. The MFA has previously advised against unnecessary travel to Haiti.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt to take part in seminar on relations between East and West
On 14 January, Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt will travel to Vilnius to take part in an informal seminar on relations between the United States, the EU, Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
Carl Bildt handed over Presidency of the EU to Spain
"The Presidency is not only moving from my country in the north to your country here in southern Europe, it is also moving from one era of European integration to a new one. The Treaty of Lisbon has now entered fully into force," observed Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt as he formally handed over the Presidency of the EU to Spain on Friday.
Carl Bildt and Anders Fogh Rasmussen: Don't discount Europe's commitment to Afghanistan
In a joint article in the Friday 8 January 2010 edition of the Washington Post, Carl Bildt and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen describe the contribution the European Union is making in Afghanistan and write that it should not be undervalued by the United States.
EU Common Foreign and Security Policy during the Swedish Presidency
The final Council meeting has been concluded and the priority issues have come to a conclusion. It is almost time for Spain to take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. Below, there is a summary of the results achieved in EUs Common Foreign and Security Policy during the Swedish Presidency.
