HUMOUR - Stefan Lofven - Svenska Feminist Foreign Policy

Cute Base Image courtesy of:   JD Hancock Sourced - here. FEMINIST FOREIGN POLICY

FARCE: Lofven's Swedish Social Democratic Party 'feminist government' and the 'feminist foreign policy'

SWEDEN 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 [...] 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). Wallstroem had been invited as an honorary guest to the Arab ministers’ meeting in praise of her government’s decision to recognize Palestine in October. 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. The day after she was prevented from speaking in Cairo, her government scrapped its military cooperation deal with the Saudis after coming under intense domestic pressure. 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.”  [No concern for human rights of ethnic-Russian citizens of eastern Ukraine.  Sweden supporting Proshenko Ukraine puppet govt which attacks and kills people in their homes.] The scrapped deal involved exchanges of military products, logistics, technology and training. Signed by a left-wing government in 2005 and renewed in 2010, it sparked a heated debate after Swedish Radio in 2011 revealed that Sweden had secretly helped the Saudis construct a weapons factory. 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.” “It’s very hard for Swedes to accept that Saudi citizens condone this political and judicial system: Hands that are cut off for robbers, women convicted for being unfaithful, lashings,” political scientist Thord Janson at Gothenburg University told AFP. “So the government doesn’t want to have a military bond with such a country. It’s a logic that’s internal to Sweden,” he added. Social Democrat Prime Minister Stefan Loefven’s government came to power in October 2014 announcing a “feminist foreign policy” and promptly decided to recognize Palestine, becoming the first Western European nation to do so. The decision caused a diplomatic spat with Israel, which temporarily recalled its ambassador from Sweden. 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 Made comment elsewhere regarding this. That gender studies / gender training offer the Defence Minister has on the table for the Saudis is something out of a Swedish political farce. Don't know what the go is with Lofven's Swedish Social Democratic Party 'feminist government' and the 'feminist foreign policy'. What's going on in Sweden are they all nuts? The 'objective to become a moral power on the world stage' confirms Sweden's politicians are mostly nuts. Pseudo lefties and liberals in government are useless, and it sounds like that coalition is going to come undone.

Saudi Arabia (largest Sweden trading partner in ME) - Sweden Weapons Factory Deal

GOOGLE TRANSLATION Investor behind Saudi article It's Investor Chairman Jacob Wallenberg behind the famous debate article in Dagens Nyheter. It reveals SR echo that have taken part of a secret emails. Investors PR agency Kreab would not comment on whether they have been involved.     2015-03-06 17:30 This morning, an article in Dagens Nyheter signed by 31 directors, including Stefan Persson, Anders Nyrén, CEO of Industrivärden and Cristina Stenbeck, Chairman of Kinnevik. They argue that Sweden's credibility as a trading partner is at stake and wants the government to respect the criticized cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, which means that Sweden is building a weapons factory ate and in Saudi Arabia. The article has stirred up a lot of emotions and H & M went earlier in the day received the call and says that Stefan Persson signed debate article as a private person.- H & M has not written during debate article, we do not stand behind it, 'said Camilla Emilsson Falk, Press Manager at H & M, to SvD. [SvD = Svenska Dagbladet - Swedish daily newspaper] Several others who signed has also declined to comment. Now reveals echo that it's Investors Chairman Jacob Wallenberg underlying debate article in cooperation with Ericsson's chairman Leif Johansson. In an email sent Wednesday from his secretary to 40 businessmen, he urges them to sign the final text."We now need to make the business a strong signal about the importance of Sweden respect signed agreements" it says in the email that Echo has taken note of. Investor have long collaborated with PR firm Kreab. When Résumé reaches Peje Emilsson who is the founder and chairman of getting a comment about their possible role in the debate article will answer the standard:- We never comment on what we do or do not do, he says. Fredrik Thambert http://www.resume.se/nyheter/pr/2015/03/06/investor-bakom-saudi-artikeln/ COMMENT Looks like Jacob Wallenberg + Leif Johansson (Ericsson chairman) have been lobbying hard for Sweden to proceed with setting up a weapons factory in Saudi Arabia, despite opposition in Sweden. Svenska Dagbladet owner = Schibsted Media Group is a Norwegian, listed co Largest shareholder = Blommenholm industrier (26.1%) = Tinius Trust (Norway) Other owners include a number of American banks and financial services companies eg  J. P. Morgan, Northern Trust  & The Bank of New York Mellon Huge interests spread over many countries. Some Sweden media interests: Aftonbladet (91%) Svenska Dagbladet Metro (35%) *Believe Metro is a free paper (unless this 'Metro' refers to another type of business). Source - Wikipedia Maybe this type of thing explains why Iran is an official 'enemy' in the West. Saudi Arabia would see Iran as a regional competitor in a number of respects (incl. religious - ie Iran Shia v Saudi Sunni). If Western companies are so bound up in money (projects, investment, selling arms to Saudi Arabia (now world's largest arms importer)), they would probably be inclined to support Saudi Arabia's position, foreign policy, aims and so on. I'm just guessing here.  But that makes sense to me. Looks like there might be a bit of a history in relation to this weapons factory deal (unless there's been more than one controversy): Anger over Sweden's 'secret' Saudi arms plant Opposition condemns government after broadcaster reveals documents said to show links between Swedish firm and Riyadh. 07 Mar 2012 18:59 GMT | Politics, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Sweden Sten Tolgfors, left, the Swedish defence minister, says there is no record of any such deal [EPA] Sweden has been secretly helping Saudi Arabia plan the construction of an arms factory to produce anti-tank missiles, the Swedish national broadcaster has reported. The Swedish Defence Research Agency (known by its Swedish acronym FOI) has co-operated with Saudi Arabia since 2005, though construction on "Project Simoom" has yet to begin, Swedish Radio reported on Tuesday, citing hundreds of classified documents and interviews with key players. Denying the existence of the project, Jan-Olof Lind, the FOI director general, told the radio station: "We do not have a project agreement with that country." While Sweden has sold weapons to Saudi Arabia in the past, classified government documents show that the current project "pushes the boundaries of what is possible for a Swedish authority", the radio reported. "The fact that an authority such as FOI is involved in the planning of a weapons factory for a government in a dictatorship such as Saudi Arabia is quite unique," the radio said. Asked specifically if there has been a Project Simoom with Saudi Arabia, Lind replied: "No. And I do not wish to comment on discussions that may or may not have occurred between Sweden and Saudi Arabia. These discussions are classified." Several former FOI employees, however, have confirmed the existence of the project to Swedish Radio, including Dick Straeng, who said he led the project until 2010. "If I were to contradict your claims I would have to say that the documents you are showing me are fakes, and they are not," he said when presented with the classified material. He said the Swedish government was fully aware of the plans. "Here is a document that the director general signed and sent to the ministry," he said. The defence ministry refused to comment on the radio's report because of the classified nature of the project. "I can't comment on the co-operation," Haakan Jevrell, the state secretary, told the radio. Shell company The radio station claimed that FOI set up a shell company in order to avoid any direct links between itself and the Saudi government. "FOI has, as far as the defence ministry knows, no collaboration with the company mentioned in the radio report," Sten Tolgfors, the Swedish defence minister, wrote on his blog. "There are no government decisions giving FOI a mandate to build a factory for weapons production," he added. Fredrick Reinfeldt, the Swedish prime minister, addressed the issue only briefly on Tuesday. "The government is responsible for ensuring that legislation and regulations are in place and followed, and I presume that the responsible authorities have respected the law," he told news agency TT. [How's that for sidestepping the issue & making this about merely govt administration and non-interference, while this is very much a government/public foreign policy matter.  As if govt is supposed to merely be a rubber stamp.  Or, that's how it sounds to me.] The co-operation deal with Saudi Arabia was struck in 2005 when the centre-left Social Democrats were in power, but was renewed in 2010 by the current government, the radio report said. [That's because all politicians work for the same masters.] Opposition uproar The co-head of Sweden's opposition Greens Party has demanded an investigation take place into the reported deal. Tolgfors, the defence minister, has been reported to the parliament's KU committee, which scrutinises ministers' handling of government affairs. "KU must examine whether the defence minister's actions are in line with Sweden's democratic ideals and international commitments," Gustav Fridolin said in a statement. He said a Swedish collaboration with Saudi Arabia would not be beneficial for democracy in the world or Swedish interests. "Sweden should not ruin its good reputation by supporting the militaries of dictatorships," he said. Another opposition party, the Left Party, has called for a special parliamentary debate. Deputy Prime Minister Jan Bjorklund, who is head of the second largest ruling party, the Liberals, in the centre-right coalition government, said he had been against the co-operation deal with Saudi Arabia under which such a plant would fall. "Sweden should be able to export military goods to democracies, not to dictatorships," he told reporters. Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, a member of the largest coalition party, the Moderates, told public radio that he supported continuing co-operation with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is Sweden's largest trading partner in the Middle East. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/03/20123718144905918.html Assuming these are linked stories. This looks like another example of Sweden's politicians doing things on the quiet & playing innocent when their activities comes to light. Don't know which documents they're referring to. Not really sure what the big deal is, apart from maybe it makes better commercial sense to do the manufacture, sales and export than it does to set someone else up to make weapons. On the other hand, if Saudi Arabia are backers of Sunni extremists in the Middle East, a Saudi weapons factory probably isn't ideal for regional peace and stability. Greens Party & Left Party are in opposition by the sound of things, while the Moderate Party and the Social Democratic Party play for the same side.   * Also, Defence Research / FOI set up a shifty shell company for distancing.  And then it looks like everyone went about denying what came out in the classified documents release.  Only for it to become an issue again in 2015.  How shift are all these politicians? * Yeah, Project Simoom, looks like the same weapons factory deal. Criticism of possible Sweden arms trade laws breach & secretive nature of deal took place when the deal was exposed.  This is not an exception in Sweden.  Parliament and public being fooled and kept in the dark by politicians and intelligence staffers seems to be the way things are done over there.  So what does this say about the likelihood of a secret US-Sweden deal regarding US-Swedish  'Project Get-Assange'?  I'd wager it's much like this secret deal that everyone denied.