FOREIGN SERVICE UPDATES

Sweden refused to renew a 10-year-old weapons deal w SaudiArabia Saudi ambassador recalled / diplomatic rift SaudiArabia = 3rd largest non-Western buyer of Sweden arms @ 338 million kronor ($39 million) 2014 Right-wing Svenska Dagbladet says:  Swedish industry “must be allowed to trade ... even with dictatorships.” http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Mar-12/290479-saudi-arabia-recalls-envoy-to-sweden-after-military-ties-cut.ashx DAILY STAR - EXTRACT [...] Swedish Foreign Ministry spokesman Gabriel Wernstedt said the Saudis were recalling their ambassador because of “Sweden’s criticism regarding human rights and democracy” in the ultraconservative kingdom. The official Saudi Press Agency reported that the Saudi Foreign Ministry recalled its diplomat because it considered remarks by Sweden’s foreign minister about the kingdom as “blatant interference it its internal affairs. Saudi Arabia is the third largest non-Western buyer of Swedish arms. In 2014, Riyadh bought equipment worth 338 million kronor ($39 million). [... ] But an opening speech she was due to give in which she stressed human rights, with a particular emphasis on rights for women, was canceled. The speech was later published by the Swedish Foreign Ministry. Wallstroem has rarely commented on Saudi Arabia but in January she condemned the kingdom’s treatment of blogger Raef Badawi, who had been sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for insulting Islam. [...] Wallstroem told news agency TT Wednesday her government had made the “correct” decision by ending the agreement. “I feel that when I speak about democracy and human rights, I do with the support of the Swedish people.”  [Oh, please.  What about the human rights of ethnic-Russian citizens of eastern Ukraine & supporting their murder by supporting the Proshenko Ukraine puppet govt.?] [...] The Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist said Tuesday only cooperation in medicine and gender studies would remain on offer. “What we have is an open invitation to partake in medical and gender training, but the Saudi side has not shown any interest.” [...] Commenting on the severed military ties, liberal writer Fredrik Segerfeldt wrote that Sweden’s objective was “to become a moral power” on the world stage. But taking a stance against Saudi Arabia today risked Sweden’s credibility as a business partner, according to some center-right opposition politicians and the Swedish business community. “Foreign policy is not only about other countries,” right-wing daily Svenska Dagbladet wrote in an editorial, noting that Swedish industry “must be allowed to trade ... even with dictatorships.” -- COMMENT RE SWEDEN ARMS DEAL CANCELLATION: "Swedish people must be so proud of their leaders. Exciting to see principles come before money for once." Ummm, I'm not actually convinced of this.  Swedish politics as a whole is not geared to serve 'principles before money'.  Some sectors of Sweden's politics may well genuinely believe in this, and there may have been a push that forced the cancellation; but overall, politics, trade and military (which serves trade & other interests) are not geared to function on bleeding heart principles. BANGLADESH EXAMPLE Dhaka Bangladesh Sweden Embassy + Business Sweden co-host Swe bus. delegation - power, telecommunications, roads, bridges + transport  Ambass: Johan Frisell - nonchalant re political climate for biz Sweden  11 large Sweden corporations delegates attend http://bdnews24.com/business/2015/03/11/swedish-business-delegation-in-dhaka-to-explore-investment-prospects Bangladesh / Sweden  Trade is dominated by the textile & ready-made garments. abt. USD$338-m (I think) {30bn Tk} Hey, Sweden ... Govt crackdown: civil & media Atheist bloggers arrested, activist in prison & more http://www.hrw.org/world-report/2014/country-chapters/bangladesh If Sweden is to operate on human rights & principles basis, doing business in Bangladesh (& probably most of the rest of the world) might prove a problem.  Most Sweden business is in garments & textiles. I smell SWEAT SHOPS.   http://bdnews24.com/business/2015/03/11/swedish-business-delegation-in-dhaka-to-explore-investment-prospects Sweatshops in Bangladesh 3.5m workers produce goods for export global market, primarily:  USA & EU 85%  However, Bangladesh women producers have little improvement in lives: http://www.waronwant.org/overseas-work/sweatshops-and-plantations/sweatshops-in-bangladesh GOLDMINE  Not only SWEATSHOPS vs HUMAN RIGHTS but also WOMEN exploited vs FEMINIST GOVT SWEDEN ... -- USA - where's the transparency?  Report:  Only .00006 Percent of State Dept. E-mails Archived 2011 http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/email-fraction-archived-official/2015/03/11/id/629628/  Hillary Clinton --  Kenya US embassy Trivia: 19 federal USG agencies operating out of US Embassy Kenya as at 2012 -- Morocco has recalled its ambassador from Nigeria Morocco denies its King spoke on phone to Goodluck Nigeria insists phone conversations took place Morocco claims using King re election campaign Morocco denies Nigeria's further assertions http://www.360nobs.com/2015/03/morocco-closes-its-embassy-over-fallout-with-federal-government/ -- Pakistan US Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale reassignment to Pak. Not yet official nomination {extensive Middle East experience} http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2015/Mar-12/290475-us-ambassador-hale-may-be-posted-to-pakistan.ashx -- Charles S Cohen Chairman of Cohen Media Group to be honoured France for promo French cinema in US http://www.prurgent.com/2015-03-11/pressrelease378605.htm  Film Media France Cultural Services of French Embassy = platform > French +  US artists, intellectuals, educators, students, tech etc -- Georgia Iran diplomatic spat Georgia Justice Min. Tsulukian China, Iran, Iraq + Egypt entry 'undesirable' http://www.eurasianet.org/node/72481 Georgia said to be pandering to anti-immigration voters Georgia says abiding by: association agreement signed w EU in 2014. -- D-Day Mission Bulgaria GREAT Mega Mission 2015 4-day initiative of UK largest visit of its kind to Bulgaria + Romania UKTI 2020 double trade aim [publics.bg] Bulgaria UK 50 top UK coys, 200 Bulgarian delegates Eyeing: >nuclear >oil + gas >mass transport >water & enviro http://www.publics.bg/en/news/12152/GREAT_Mega_Mission_2015_in_Bulgaria.html -- UK shadow foreign secretary says pursuing reopening of the UK embassy in Iran British grovelling ... mistakes made http://tehrantimes.com/politics/122509-shadow-foreign-secretary-says-he-pushes-for-reopening-uk-embassy-in-iran- -- UK Opened New Consulate in India, the Seventh [Prensa Latina] Ahmedabad Bangalore Chandigarh – new – {Large Punjabi Community in UK} Chennai Delhi - High Commission (embassy) Goa – tourist info office Hyderabad Kolkata Mumbai Pune – Commercial Office -- LOL... Timely UK suck job ingratiation {for trade}: Statue of Mahatma Gandhi for Parliament Square in London on Sat David Cameron attending Hammond attended opening new consulate. Slaughter of independence supporters by British Amritsar Punjab 1919 not mentioned. Amritsar Punjab 1919 Slaughter by British =  over 400 dead, incl. many women & children http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3610931&Itemid=1 -- #Turkey Syrian citizen, #Canada spy actively helped 3 teenage UK girls pass into Syria to join ISIS admitted on payroll of Canada intelligence #Canada - a #NATO ally knee-deep in #ISIS http://www.dailysabah.com/columns/ilnur-cevik/2015/03/14/canada-has-much-to-explain-about-isis-links #Canada Embassy Jordan run by Bruno Saccomani hand-picked former bodyguard to Stephen Harper linked to an interl terrorism & spy scandal #Canada   -   Ooh La La SPY SCANDAL - ISIS #Syria intel operative Mohammed Mehmet Rashid     — dubbed Doctor Mehmet Rashid     x3 London schoolgirls http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/03/13/safety-minister-silent-amid-claims-that-the-spy-accused-of-helping-girls-join-isis-was-working-for-canada/

Sweden - Selective Human Rights Concerns: Gregorian Bivolaru / EAW Julian Assange

20 Oct 13 Live discussion with vice-president Viviane Reding on the Romanian misuse of EU mechanisms to continue persecution of refugees VIDEO:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rnb_PbUpYY#t=14 On 14th October Mrs. Reding visited the Citizens’ Dialogue in Stockholm. The Swedish representative of Soteria International, Mr. Konrad Swenninger brought up the issue of a human rights contradiction between the European Arrest Warrant and the International Convention for protection of Refugees. As an example, Mr. Swenninger mentioned the case of Gregorian Bivolaru, a Romanian political dissident continuously targeted by Romanian authorities and was given political asylum in Sweden. The asylum is now threatened by a European Arrest Warrant issued in June 2013 by Romanian authorities, as a result of a highly controversial decision of the Romanian Supreme Court against Bivolaru. Acknowledging the case, Mrs. Reding stated that indeed the European Arrest Warrant has been a complicated subject in European politics. She and her team have insisted on precise procedures related to the warrant, so that it cannot be used by national authorities to pursue undemocratic interests. Referring to the situation in Romania, Mrs. Reding is concerned that indeed the country struggles with implementation and respect for democratic procedures. Mrs. Reding reminded the audience that in the summer of 2012, the Directorate General for Justice of the EC, which she conducts, severely criticized the attack on the constitution of Romania attempted by opposing Romanian governing parties. In a follow-up briefing Mrs. Viviane Reding, Mrs. Brigitta Ohlsson, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and MEP Olle Ludvigsson who co-chaired the meeting with citizens expressed their concern and interest to follow the case and received a communiqué from Gregorian Bivolaru concerning his situation. In meetings 17th October in Brussels several Swedish MEPs expressed their concern and interest to work for the case, and the Romanian misuse of the European Arrest Warrant to pursue political persecution of the refugee Bivolaru. We remind that earlier in October the case has been discussed at the Human Dimension Implementation meeting organized by OSCE in Warsaw, both in the plenary discussion on the protection of refugees and in the side-event conference organized by Soteria International. Representatives of the Swedish government assured Soteria International and the international community that Sweden takes its international obligations on Human Rights very seriously and reminded that Swedish legislation, as well as European law, foresee that national courts should take consideration of human rights implications in their rulings. The statement of Swedish governmental representatives and the strong position of Viviane Reding in matters of defending human rights and democratic procedures bring confidence that human rights will be efficiently protected and countries such as Romania, still on their way to democracy, will be given a strong good example and will be prevented in their attempts to disregard or violate the rights of its citizens. http://www.soteriainternational.org/live-discussion-with-vice-president-viviane-reding-on-the-romanian-misuse-of-eu-mechanisms-to-continue-persecution-of-refugees COMMENT The misuse of the European Arrest Warrant ("EAW") is not confined to issue of EAWs on trivial grounds.  The EAW is also misused for political persecution of dissidents or those who otherwise fall foul of authorities. Significantly, misuse of the EAW is not confined to dissidents of 'repressive Eastern European' regimes.   The dubious EAW has been used by Sweden and Britain to facilitate persecution of journalist-publisher Julian Assange, by blocking political asylum granted to Assange by Ecuardor.  So we have witnessed Sweden issuing a EAW and Interpol Red Notice in order to merely question Assange in respect of 'allegations' the Swedish prosecution claims it is 'investigating'. Sweden has been able to issue such an arrest warrant because (a) it is a member of the European Union and (b) the requirement for proof that there is in fact a case to answer has not been written into legislation by Union lawmakers.  How easy is that? While Sweden was quick to issue an EAW and Red Notice, it has been unusually resistant in getting around to even questioning Assange during the 2 years he remained under house arrest in Britain, in addition to a further 2.5 years that Assange has remained trapped at the Ecuador embassy, under threat of British arrest and extradition to Sweden (almost certainly leading to subsequent extradition from Sweden to the United States). The treatment of Assange is in stark contrast to Sweden's selectively liberal stance protecting Gregorian Bivolaru. Gregorian Bivolaru's 2005 arrest would have been effected under an Interpol all-points-bulletin apprehension, as Romania's accession to the European Union was in 2007. Despite allegations of a sexual nature involving a minor (which were later dropped on claim of 'coercion') and a whole host of other serious charges, Sweden refused to extradite Gregorian Bivolaru and proceeded to grant Bivolaru asylum in 2005. A 2013 EAW now threatens Gregorian Bivolaru's asylum in Sweden and Swedish politicians are commendably quick to express their concern regarding Bivolaru's matter, but remain curiously silent regarding WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange, who has now been denied liberty (without charge) for over 4 years. EAWs are a dime-a-dozen and generally used for pursuit of trivial matters, as the British surge in figures and analysis attests.  Unfortunately, the EAW also does away with arrest initiating-authorities being required to prove subjects of an EAW actually have a case to answer. The EAW sidestepping of the burden of proof is a travesty of justice that should never have been permitted (let alone recently adopted by the British, by default, thanks to the British Conservatives pushing through legislation by sleight of hand). Uproar in Commons over vote U-turn on European Arrest Warrant Cameron narrowly avoids rebellion after European Arrest Warrant vote scrapped The arrest warrant allows any European Union country to request the arrest and extradition of a wanted person without proving they have a case to answer – the traditional burden of proof that British courts insisted foreign countries pass before agreeing an extradition. Critics say the burden of proof now is too low, and can lead to people being arrested simply on the word of foreign police or magistrates, without any case to answer. EXTRACT - http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/uproar-in-commons-over-vote-u-turn-on-european-arrest-warrant-1.1995697 Sweden's treatment of American target, Julian Assange, captive without charge on what strongly smells of trumped up allegations that serve US political objectives, is blatantly incongruous and jarring. Where Sweden's conscience should be, concerning the detention and political persecution of publisher Julian Assange, lies a gaping, unmentionable hole that goes unchallenged. ................................................................... Something Stinks: British Detention & FBI Investigation Australia Kowtows to America LINK

Romania Says Sorry, You #@%&!!

Romania says sorry for embassy invitation gaffe 01:42 Feb 07, 2015 BUCHAREST: Romania's foreign ministry apologized on Friday after its embassy in Paris sent out invitations for a reception and accidentally attached a spreadsheet with unflattering descriptions of some of the guests. The embassy had emailed invitations to representatives of the Romanian diaspora for a reception to mark a Feb. 10 visit by incoming President Klaus Iohannis to France. The spreadsheet described some guests as "undesirable" and one of them as "ghastly", according to a letter of complaint sent to the Romanian ambassador by one of the invitees, which was published in Romanian daily Cotidianul. "Annotations on the document for internal use do not reflect the opinion or assessment of the Romanian embassy in Paris and they are purely personal, so the responsible person was sanctioned," the ministry said in a statement. (Reuters) http://www.samaa.tv/weird/07-Feb-2015/romania-says-sorry-for-embassy-invitation-gaffe COMMENT That guest list sure would have been entertaining.  Any chance of a leak? Klaus Werner Iohannis President of Romania Transylvanian Saxon family Assumed Office:   21 December 2014 Profession     Physics teacher Religion         Lutheranism Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania (1990–2013) National Liberal Party (2013–2014) - centre-right [Wikipedia]

UKRAINE and US 'boy scouts'

California has worked with Ukrainian troops Guido J. Portante Jr., Special to The Desert Sun 6:43 p.m. PDT July 26, 2014 After the breakup of the Soviet Union between 1989 and 1991, the leadership of our country in the Defense Department and the administration saw an opportunity to keep those countries that were once a part of the Soviet Union and newly independent on the path to democracy. Further, they wanted to minimize instability in the region by supporting the principals of responsible government within those countries. In the early 1990s, a national program called Partnership for Peace, now called State Partnership Program, was established by our government. The State Partnership Program is an innovative program managed by the National Guard Bureau given to each participating state to execute. The State Partnership Program is an extraordinary effort by the U.S. to familiarize newly independent countries with American values and principles, to include law, public safety, agriculture, business, and military capabilities and training. Further, helping to build long-term national security strength for the newly independent nation’s we partnered with. In this process, we strengthened the national security of the United States. And, we built a coalition of forces that are mutually supportive to each other. California has been aligned with the country of Ukraine since 1993. Many states throughout our country and their National Guards are aligned with countries such as Alabama with Romania, Georgia with Georgia. There are currently 48 states that are aligned with countries of the old Soviet Union, Warsaw Pact countries and the debunked country of Yugoslav. [Debunked Yugoslavia?] Countless exercises revolving around peace keeping, homeland defense, military and cultural exchanges have been conducted. The National Guard’s dual federal and state mission make this program ideal for guard units to promote democratic institutions at the national, state and local levels of governments. The National Guard of each state is responsible to the federal government in time of war and national emergency. It also is responsible to each state governor for state emergencies such as natural disasters or civil unrest. The latter is important in working with partnered countries. I had an opportunity to train with the military members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and with Ukraine’s political leaders. We developed programs that were conducted both in the Ukraine and in California. Integrated into these military exercise, were cultural exchanges between the two partners. These exercises shared lessons learned, ideas and concepts of both cultures. They promoted the American way of life, while taking into consideration those issues facing a new independent country on the road to democracy. The success of this program lies in the partnered nation’s participation when fighting alongside of us in Iraq and Afghanistan. The cost to partner in the State Partnership Program has been low and has paid dividends. With our continued sharing of interpersonal relationships with each partnered country, we can enhance each newly independent nations chance to succeed at democracy, freedom and the ability to prosper as a people and a nation. When individuals get to know each other while sharing the belief for freedom and democracy we begin to find out that as people we are all cut from the same mold. Getting along becomes much easier. For those who might want to tear us apart, the job becomes harder. Guido J. Portante Jr. of Rancho Mirage is a retired U.S. Army brigadier general. http://www.desertsun.com/story/opinion/contributors/2014/07/26/california-worked-ukraine-troops/13227433/

PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE

Partnership for Peace
[wikipedia]

Blue      = NATO (1994)
Orange = Partnership for Peace (PfP)
Green    = Current NATO members (former PfP members)
Red        = aspiring PfP states [wikipedia]

The Partnership for Peace (PfP) is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) program aimed at creating trust between NATO and other states in Europe and the former Soviet Union; 22 states are members.  It was first discussed by the Bulgarian Society Novae, after proposed as an American initiative at the meeting of NATO ... in 1993, and formally launched ... January 1994 (NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium). [wikipedia]

Partnership for Peace is now:  the State Partnership Program (SPP) - here.


Following is a list of other partners to the US State Partnership Program:

(transcribed from Wikipedia)

Bahamas (C'wealth) Bangladesh Belize Bolivia Botswana Cambodia Chile Columbia Costa Rica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Ghana Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Indonesia Jamaica (C'wealth) Jordan Kazakhstan Kyrgyz Republic

Liberia  Mongolia Morocco Nicaragua Nigeria Panama Paraguay Peru Philippines Senegal South Africa Suriname Tajikistan Thailand Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Uruguay Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands

---------------------------------------------------------
COMMENT

Partnership for Peace (now 'State Partnership Program') sounds like an altruistic US government sponsored 'boy scouts' mission spreading the message, getting together to grow, share, develop and commune with underprivileged and unenlightened 'boys' from all over the world.

But, hey, there's dividends to be had by the US, at a bargain basement low outlay.

I'd wager that these US dividends are enormous.

The Program is seen to:

• Strengthen national security of the US.
• Build a 'coalition of forces' for mutual support.
• Be ideal for promotion of 'democratic institutions' at NATIONAL, STATE and LOCAL levels of external participating governments.

The Program also happens to:

• Provide MILITARY connections.
• POLITICAL leader connections.
• Afford promotion of 'the American way of life' -- and, let's be real -- whatever the US agenda wishes to promote.

The article indicates involving participating nations in supporting US military causes and actions is key to the success of the Program.

And there's plenty to be said for making individual connections that the Program affords.

It looks like the US has been dabbling (with this single arm of the worldwide dabbling machine) in Europe since the early 1990s -- and in Ukraine since 1993.

Is anybody else blown away by that?  

It means that the US (and its agenda) has had 20 years to gain -- and execute -- influence at a military, political, individual or personal, cultural, government, national, state and local level, in the Ukraine.

It looks like there's something to be said for these evangelistic 'boy scout' missions beyond borders and, yes, they most definitely pay dividends given enough time communing around 'Camp US Love-in'.

Poland's CIA prison - Global program for detaining al Qaeda suspects?

European court rules against Poland over secret CIA jail Christian Lowe WARSAW — Reuters Published Thursday, Jul. 24 2014, 4:46 AM EDT Last updated Thursday, Jul. 24 2014, 4:51 AM EDT The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Thursday that the CIA ran a secret jail on Polish soil, a judgment that adds to pressure on the United States and its allies to reveal the truth about the global program for detaining al Qaeda suspects. ... The Strasbourg-based court ruled that Poland had violated Articles of the European Convention on Human Rights that cover torture, the right to liberty, and the right to an effective remedy for victims of crime....

... The court ruling did not cover the United States, which is outside its jurisdiction. Thursday’s decision puts the Polish government in an awkward position. It has a close security relationship with the United States and Polish officials have always denied the existence of any CIA jail on their territory. The ruling may also have implications for other European states alleged to have hosted CIA prisons: similar cases have been lodged with the court in Strasbourg against Romania and Lithuania. Source - The Global Mail - here.

OMG!

CIA prisons all over Europe?

Now that the US is all over Europe, shouldn't they be bound to join the EU so that they're no longer out of EU jurisdiction?  

LOL