2007

Press release 11 May 2007 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Prime Minister's Office Ministry of Defence Four Swedish ministers to Council meeting in Brussels

The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) will meet in Brussels on 14-15 May. will be represented at the Council by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for EU Affairs Cecilia Malmström. The EU ministers will discuss preparations ahead of the summit in Brussels on 21-22 May. This time, EU defence ministers and development cooperation ministers will also hold meetings of their own. Sweden will be represented at these meetings by Minister for Defence Mikael Odenberg and Minister for International Development Cooperation .

The agenda for the foreign ministers' meeting includes preparations ahead of the EU summit with Russia, Somalia, the peace process in the Middle East, Sudan and the Western Balkans. The foreign ministers will also hold a joint session with the defence ministers to discuss such issues as EU operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

The defence ministers will discuss such issues as the EU's military crisis management capacity, the EU's rapid reaction capacity, the ongoing reform of the EU operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and cooperation between the EU and the UN in connection with crisis management.

The development cooperation ministers will discuss such issues as EU economic partnership agreements with developing countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean, trade-related development assistance, a joint code of conduct in the field for better development assistance efficiency and increased development assistance volumes.

The foreign ministers' meeting One of the most important issues on the agenda is the preparations for the summit with Russia and possibly the related issue of a mandate for negotiations on a new legal framework for cooperation with Russia. Not least, recent events point to the need for a discussion in the EU on relations with Russia as a whole. The Government attaches great importance to the EU developing these relations with the aim of increasing transparency, predictability and stability in cooperation with Russia. A cohesive and consistent Russia policy in which the EU speaks with one voice is essential.

As regards the Middle East, focus will be on follow up of the Arab League's peace initiative. In connection with the Council meeting, a special meeting will also take place between the EU and the foreign ministers of several Arab states. EU support to Palestinian development remains urgent. The EU has initiated contact with the Palestinian government and will continue to monitor the government's actions in relation to the Quartet's three principles.

Defence ministers' meeting Important progress has been made in work to achieve the EU's Headline Goal 2010. Examples of this are the current evaluation of the Member States' contributions to the EU Force Catalogue and the new contributions that some Member States have made during the spring.

We note with satisfaction that as of 1 January 2007, the EU reached full capability to be able to conduct two rapid reaction operations of Battle Group size, practically at the same time. Thanks to the contributions of the Member States, the EU rapid reaction capability is currently assured up to and including the first half of 2010.

Cooperation between the EU and the UN in the ongoing joint crisis management operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Sudan are welcome. It is important to further strengthen cooperation between the EU and the UN in connection with crisis management.

Development assistance ministers' meeting Sweden fulfils the UN goal of 0.7 % in aid by 2015 by a large margin. The Minister for International Development Cooperation will emphasise the importance of other EU countries now taking their responsibility and fulfilling their commitments of increased development assistance volumes so as to achieve the Monterrey agreement's goals concerning poverty reduction. She will also emphasise the importance of ensuring results and quality in development cooperation as development assistance volumes increase.

Contact Martina Ränk Elin Gunnarsson Press Secretary to Cecilia Malmström +46 8 405 10 00 Niclas Bengtsson Mikael Östlund

Press release 12 March 2007 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Ministry of Defence Minister for International Development Cooperation and Minister for Defence in Afghanistan

This week, Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson and Minister for Defence Mikael Odenberg are undertaking a joint visit to Afghanistan. The purpose is to take stock of the situation on the spot and to study support to reconstruction and the work for development and security that is being conducted by Swedes and others in the region.

In Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif the Ministers will meet Afghanistan's President, ministers, members of parliament, representatives of human rights organisations, Afghan women, Swedish participants in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission and representatives of the UN and the World Bank. Ministers Carlsson and Odenberg will also study development assistance projects and the work of other Swedish actors on the spot. Sweden has a broad, long-term commitment to Afghanistan with extensive development cooperation and a large security force.

Contact Mikael Östlund Niclas Bengtsson

Pressmeddelande 26 januari 2007 Försvarsdepartementet Broader remit for the analysis of Estonia material The Government decided today on changes to the remit given to the National Laboratory of Forensic Science (SKL) on 29 June 2006 to analyse photographic and film material from the wreck of MS Estonia. The decision entails removing the time limit previously decided, within which SKL is to assess whether changes have occurred at the site of the wreck that may have been caused by human impact.

The decision means that SKL will in future consult with the National Board of Psychological Defence (SPF) on the parts of the material that have been discussed in the media and parliamentary debates on whether photographic and film material has been edited, manipulated or otherwise distorted. Since 2001, SPF has been responsible for creating an Internet databank containing material about the shipwreck.

In connection with today's Government decision, Minister for Defence Mikael Odenberg has informed Estonian Minister of Justice Rein Lang on the changes resulting from the decision. In his letter to Minister of Justice Lang, Mr Odenberg also confirms that SKL will work with a contact person in Estonia for the duration of the assignment. The Ministry of Defence has also asked the Swedish Maritime Administration to submit a statement on the possibility of releasing personnel who conducted diving investigations of the wreck from their obligations under confidentiality agreements.

Kontakt Niclas Bengtsson Jesper Gyberg Pressassistent 08-405 25 30 070-618 42 53 e-post till Jesper Gyberg 2006

Press release 05 December 2006 Prime Minister's Office Ministry for Foreign Affairs Ministry of Defence Javier Solana to visit on 7-8 December

Dr Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, will visit Stockholm on 7-8 December 2006. During his visit, Dr Solana will have talks with Prime Minister , Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, Minister for Defence Mikael Odenberg, and representatives of the .

Topics for discussion will include current international issues and how the Common Foreign and Security Policy can be strengthened.

Photo opportunity There will be a brief photo opportunity before the talks with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

Time and place: Thursday 7 December at 15.30 Prime Minister's Office, Rosenbad 4, Stockholm

Assembly at the entrance at 15.15 Please bring your press credentials

Press meeting A meeting with the press will be held after the talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt.

Time and place: Thursday 7 December at 18.45 Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Gustav Adolfs Torg 1, Stockholm

Assembly at the entrance at 18.30 Please bring your press credentials

Contact Roberta Alenius +46 8 405 10 00 Christian Carlsson Niclas Bengtsson Jan Janonius Niclas Kvarnström Desk Officer +46 8 405 57 83 +46 70 847 89 58

Press release 10 October 2006 Ministry of Defence H. G. Wessberg appointed State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence At its meeting today, the Government decided to appoint Hans Gustaf Wessberg as State Secretary to Minister for Defence Mikael Odenberg at the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Wessberg, who comes most recently from a position as Director-General of the Swedish Companies Registration Office, has previously worked as Deputy Director General of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, Managing Director of the Federation of Swedish Industries and Head of Information at the Swedish Defence Staff.

Mr Wessberg is a reserve officer with the rank of major. He is married with three children. He will take up his duties on Thursday 12 October.

Contact Niclas Bengtsson Jesper Gyberg Press Assistant +46 8 405 25 30 +46 70 618 42 53 email to Jesper Gyberg