Sweden's Still Playing Games With Assange

Four Years Ago ... Assange team challenge Swedish prosecutor to come to London, 2011 4.5 YEARS ...  ... MANY ENRAGED POLITICIANS ... ... A MULTI-SUBJECT FBI INVESTIGATION ... ... US MULTI-AGENCY CO-OPERATION ... ... NUMEROUS COURT CASES ... ... ONE UNITED NATIONS PETITION ... ... & STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS (OR TWO) ... ... L A T E R ... Swedish prosecutor requests to interview Assange in London The prosecutor requests to interview Assange in London  2015-03-13  Director of Public Prosecutions Marianne Ny has today made a request to Julian Assange’s legal representatives whether Assange would consent to being interviewed in London and have his DNA taken via a swab.  [Read elsewhere that a swab had previously been provided.] If Assange gives his consent, the prosecutor will promptly submit a request for legal assistance to the British authorities to further continue the investigation. English law states that a person being interviewed through the use of of international legal assistance in a criminal case must also provide his or her consent. A request will also be sent to the Ecuadorian authorities regarding permission to perform investigative measures at the country’s embassy in London. The reason the prosecutor decides now to request permission to interview Julian Assange in London is chiefly that a number of the crimes Julian Assange is suspected of will be subject to statute of limitation in August 2015 i.e. in less than six months’ time.    [Yeah, and there's that little matter of a UN petition.] -The Supreme Court of England and Wales decided in June 2012 that Julian Assange should be surrendered to Sweden. He has prevented this submission by taking refuge at the Ecuadorian embassy, says Director of Public Prosecutions Marianne Ny.  [The Courts do not decide on facts associated with weighing up if there is 'a case to answer'; rather, they deal with technicalities concerning the issuance of  the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) in the event of a dispute, and essentially rubber-stamp, on the merits of mere technical issuance, the EAW in question.  However, it has been documented and reported that EAWs are readily issued in Europe by authorities pursuing a large number of trivial prosecutions and for political persecution (as Sweden notes:  Romania).] - My view has always been that to perform an interview with him at the Ecuadorian embassy in London would lower the quality of the interview, and that he would need to be present in Sweden in any case should there be a trial in the future. This assessment remains unchanged. Now that time is of the essence, I have viewed it therefore necessary to accept such deficiencies to the investigation and likewise take the risk that the interview does not move the case forward, particularly as there are no other measures on offer without Assange being present in Sweden, said Marianne Ny.  [Interview 'quality' supposedly an issue for 4.5 years while dodging questioning Assange?  Yeah, sure.] In November 2014 the Svea Court of Appeal decided that Julian Assange should remain detained in his absence. The Court further viewed the investigation to be at a standstill and stated that the prosecutor had not fully fulfilled the duty the drive the investigation forward. - Over the past two months we have fully considered and deliberated upon the views made by the Court of Appeal regarding how best to move the investigation forward. This has resulted in the decision I have now taken, namely to try to get permission for an interview in London. As stated, it remains unclear what this may result in. However, I have now decided to try to carry out an interview as the statutory limitation nears, said Marianne Ny. If Julian Assange provides consent to continue the investigation in London, this will be performed by the supporting prosecutor to the case, Chief Prosecutor Ingrid Isgren, together with a police officer. - I cannot comment further on the case at this point, not least when such an interview will take place nor other details, said Marianne Ny  Julian Assange has appealed the Court of Appeal’s detention order to the Supreme Court, which recently requested the Prosecutor-General to submit an opinion concerning the Court’s subsequent dealing of the matter. http://www.aklagare.se/In-English/Media/News-in-English1/The-prosecutor-requests-to-interview-Assange-in-London/ COMMENT Suspected that the UN petition and the statute of limitations had something to do with this & the statute of limitations factor's been confirmed by Sweden (above), but this is also very much a face-saving excuse for Sweden and the more pressing catalyst for the latest Swedish step in this macabre dance is the UN petition lodged by Assange, I would think. So there you go.  More than four years of someone's life wasted, and casually passed off as stalling over 'quality' of interview issues — after 'illegality' of a London interview claims were made by the same prosecutor.   And, now, that the statute of limitations is looming, and that Assange has lodged a UN petition in protest of arbitrary detention ... Sweden requests an interview. So this is just a legal manoeuvre, probably to undermine the UN petition by being seen to be 'doing' something to progress the case  (yet doing so at the eleventh hour).  The Guardian: Julian Assange set to be questioned by Swedish prosecutors in London WikiLeaks founder expected to be interrogated on rape and sexual molestation claims at Ecuadorian embassy in bid to break deadlock http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/mar/13/julian-assange-wikileaks-swedish-prosecutors-london-interview Originally, I'm pretty sure that Guardian headline was "WikiLeaks founder set to be interrogated", which prompted me to remark on the spin that puts on the story.  But on looking up the article again, the headline's:  "Julian Assange set to be questioned ...". Not sure what's going on there. Odd for me to be mistaken about something like that, but I could be. However, I do note they've also got the following beneath the headline: "WikiLeaks founder expected to be interrogated on rape and sexual molestation claims"  which, in my opinion, maintains that same sensationalising and misleading spin. Consider the following:  SOURCE:  WSWS Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. The average reader would not even be familiar with a broad range of general facts regarding the Assange story, let alone aware of the existence of admissions made that discredit Sweden's almost 5 year pursuit of Assange, so I think language used in conveying any story is important if the aim is non-prejudicial reporting. The word 'interrogate' -  "Ask questions of (someone) closely, aggressively, or formally." Osborn's Concise Law Dictionary that I've got on hand is ancient and hasn't a definition of 'interrogate' or 'interrogation'. According to Wikipedia: Interrogation (also called questioning) is interviewing as commonly employed by law enforcement officers, military personnel, and intelligence agencies with the goal of eliciting useful information. Interrogation may involve a diverse array of techniques, ranging from developing a rapport with the subject, to outright torture. As I'm unfamiliar with criminal law, I can't say whether a prosecutor interviewing a person who has not been charged with a crime constitutes what would be referred to as an 'interrogation', but as The Guardian is writing for an audience of laypeople, I think: "... expected to be interrogated on rape and sexual molestation claims"  is loaded and prejudicial. The term 'interrogated', especially used in that sentence, would almost unconsciously conjurer in the mind of a reader unfamiliar with the facts: (a) an 'inquisition' for extracting admission of wrongdoing or guilt; and (b) agency in the carriage of wrongdoing. So a sentence constructed in such a way may also prejudicially shape public perception and public opinion. Whereas a more straightforward variation, such as 'expected to be questioned on ..." conveys none of the taint associated with a term such as 'interrogation'.  Well, unless it's paired with "rape and sexual molestation claims." Whose claims?  It looks as though these are claims of the legal entity that is Sweden, rather than claims of the women themselves.  So Sweden, by a quirk of the legal system as it presently stands, has made legal claims against Assange; which claims have been discredited given various testimony from the women concerned. Whatever the nature of the claims made by the legal entity that is Sweden, reading "to be interrogated on rape and sexual molestation claims" emblazoned in newspapers, online articles and in other online references around the world is, I think, highly prejudicial to the public perception of the person who is the target of those types of claims, especially when that person is also the target of political persecution, as is Julian Assange. Whatever the scenario, even if it was — "interrogated on theft of inflatable butt plug claims" — it is still prejudicial to whoever is portrayed as the subject of 'interrogation' and as the agent of whatever is claimed to be the individual's culpability. I don't exactly have a way with words, so I'm not quite sure how the factual information could be concisely conveyed in a less prejudicial way (apart from not using the coloured term, 'interrogation', when addressing an audience of laypeople). What about "on alleged XYZ claims":  eg.  "interrogated on alleged theft of inflatable butt plug claims"? That conveys the claim but also, simultaneously, conveys that the claim is an allegation at that point in time; which, I think is important, particularly in a matter that is politically motivated. Publications and journalists, who are experienced wordsmiths, know the power of their words.  Yet Western mainstream media articles persistently portraying Assange either in a clearly negative manner, or negatively in some less obvious way. Anyway, they're my thoughts on the latest.  Tired.  Not sure I'm making sense.  Hopefully, I am. PS ... Funny how the prosecutor claimed Sweden couldn't legally question Assange, but when the heat is on because a UN petition has been lodged nearly 5 years down the track —  Hey, that uncompromising 'legal' position has suddenly changed and questioning Assange is now legally possible (despite past assertions and denials), and this is allegedly due to statute of limitation expiry concerns. So when did the law 'change'?  Was it when the statute of limitations expiry neared or was it when a UN petition was lodged? Disgraceful conduct from anybody, let alone the justice system of a first world country and self-proclaimed humanitarian moral force on the world stage. One final thing:  doesn't this sound like a form of mental torture?  Making a person fight hard and fight for years to progress a matter — blocking political asylum that's been granted, blocking that fight every step of the way and refusing to progress the matter during a 4.5 year stretch of detention without charge — only to turn around and take a calculated step at the eleventh hour, to be seen to be progressing the matter (when, in fact, this has been refused all along)? How maddening is that?  And expensive.  Legal advice and assistance in preparation and lodgement of petitions in UN courts can't come cheaply.  Ultimately, this is Sweden's tactical move; just as dragging this out, denying, dismissing and so on, was a tactical strategy for almost 5 years.

SWEDEN Loan of USD$100 million to Ukraine / IMF $17.5 billion Approved

Press release 11 March 2015 Prime Minister's Office Ministry for Foreign Affairs Ministry of Finance Sweden offers loan to Ukraine Sweden has decided to offer Ukraine a bilateral loan of USD 100 million. This loan, together with our political support for the country's autonomous path, independence and territorial integrity, will help to strengthen Ukraine.  [Nah, this is about pillaging Ukraine, securing Ukraine for US and other interests & using Ukraine as a pawn, while exercising US-EU aggression towards Russia.] Ukraine is in a very vulnerable situation. The Russian aggression against the eastern parts of the country and the fighting that has been ongoing for a year now have exacerbated an already difficult economic crisis. However, the new Ukrainian Government has demonstrated a clear willingness for reforms and has begun a comprehensive restructuring of the economy. [Self-serving propaganda. Ignoring it is Ukraine govt attacking the people in the east - ethnic Russian civilians of Ukraine.  It is the people of eastern Ukraine that are vulnerable and ATTACKED.  And this rewriting of truth is murder.] The International Monetary Fund, IMF, is today expected to decide on increased support to Ukraine. Moreover, the European Commission has presented a proposal on a third Macro-Financial Assistance loan to Ukraine, which Sweden welcomes. Despite this, there remains a need to support the far-reaching reforms that the country has to implement. It is important that individual countries also show their confidence in and solidarity with Ukraine. Sweden has therefore decided to offer Ukraine a bilateral loan of USD 100 million. This loan, together with our political support for the country's autonomous path, independence and territorial integrity, will help to strengthen Ukraine.  [Solidarity, my ass.  It's about political ends.] The exact conditions will be determined once a negotiation has taken place with Ukraine. We hope that the loan can begin to be disbursed in early 2016. http://www.government.se/sb/d/586/a/255599  .............................................................. #BREAKING IMF approves Ukraine aid package of $17.5 billion Had to double check / couldn't believe it was in the BILLIONS .. IMF approves $17.5bn bailout package for Ukraine http://on.rt.com/spnmji COMMENT   Ukraine is like a giant sink hole. It has gone completely broke, its gold has disappeared, its currency has collapsed, inflation is soaring, foreigners have been appointed to key positions in government. So far the US government, IMF, the European Union and now Sweden are sinking money into this US regime changed gang-b*nged hell hole.  It's not charity.  'Aid' and loans have to be repaid and there is nothing altruistic about this, however much the Swedish MFA wants to spin it. In Sweden's haste to serve their US master's strategic aims in Europe and their determination to be of service expanding the EU, Sweden thinks nothing of misrepresenting Ukraine as beleaguered by 'Russian aggression' and in need of help, when the fact is:  the ethnic-Russian Ukraine civilians in the east are being attacked by a US-NATO-EU backed US puppet government. So much for Sweden's 'human rights' lip service.  What a load of horse manure. If Sweden really cared about human rights, it would matter to Sweden that ethnic-Russian civilians in the east of Ukraine are being attacked by hostile, bloodthirsty, Russian-hating lowlifes - neo-Nazi thugs in militia battalions that aren't even under government control, as well as government deployed troops (which are more of the same scum). Now I know 100% that Sweden's politicians talk fairytales when they spout off their 'concern' about human rights. 'Human rights' is something that is used to politically manipulate the receiver of the message.  It is nothing but propaganda.

Safety vs Mob Rule - Ukraine Violence

Very Real Neo-Nazi Threat in Ukraine. A compilation of what mainstream media isn't showing. Source:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYjsCJwcPWk Came across this yesterday while someone was desperately trying to convince social media that Ukraine is nothing but a hearts, flowers, rainbows and unicorns 'victim' of Russian 'aggression'. Watching this I felt really angry and had an inner 'Lord Drifter' moment where I hoped the Russians would do a military run-through on this ugly, uncivilised and cruel mob of destroyers. It also reminded me that although I might whine about state 'totalitarianism', I'm no rebel or revolutionary.  Brutality, violence, mob rule and chaos of the kind that's displayed in this video is probably only kept in check by a strong state that keeps us safe from people who are capable of behaving like animals. But along with public safety comes a loss of freedom and the risk of an abuse of authority, I guess. Not really sure about this kind of thing.  Just thoughts I had while watching this.  Also not sure how to reconcile the conviction that a strong state is needed, when feeling disgust at seeing Nuland and McCain (representatives of a Western state) at the epicentre of a neo-Nazi hell that the US helped create, to further US strategic ambitions.

ASSANGE - Sweden Supreme Court - Ordered New Investigation By Attorney General

ASSANGE Supreme Court Swe appeal hearing granted NEW INVESTIGATION to be carried by attorney general - ASSANGE - petition in protest of arbitrary detention also filed at UN + even if Swe drop the matter, UK can hold ASSANGE EXTRACTS Assange fears that any extradition to Sweden would see him onwardly extradited to the U.S, where the FBI continues a criminal investigation into Wikileaks. The decision was published in the Supreme Court's website and and the court ordered a new investigation to be carried by the attorney general. The lawyers also filed a petition with the United Nations in protest of arbitrary detention. ... even if Swedish authorities do drop the case, the United Kingdom could still detain Assange. Assange, who sought asylum in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, has repeatedly requested the Swedish prosecutor question him in England. Although this is a standard procedure allowed by the Swedish Justice system, prosecutor Marianne Ny has refused his requests.  http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Swedish-Supreme-Court-Approves-Assanges-Appeal-Hearing-20150310-0029.html FILINGS SC (Sweden) Appeal -  https://justice4assange.com/Assange-files-case-to-dismiss.html COMMENT OK, what's going on? I wasn't expecting that. The Attorney General investigation sounds too good to be true. After dragging this out FOREVER, until they could no longer keep it up & maintain any scrap of public credibility, they're giving in? No way.  It's probably to ward off some heat, because if this had gone before a human rights court, it wouldn't do for Sweden to have sat on the matter doing nothing for over 4 years. So, it's probably a tactic of being seen to be doing something, even if they may not be at the end of the day. Also, in my view, Sweden failing to progress this matter for over 4 years cannot come down to the action (or inaction) of one single person. Don't get the part where Britain can still block asylum even if Sweden drop the matter.

FOREIGN SERVICE UPDATES

Anti Benjamin Netanyahu protest: 35,000 -- #Israel Tel Aviv's Rabin Square Saturday 35,000 - anti #NETANYAHU rally reckon ignoring domestic / obsessed with Iran Dissenters say Bibi focus on Iran = avoiding Palestine issue also 'ISIS excuse' >made the security of Israel hostage settlers Issues raised by speech-makers: >peace with Palestine >occupation >economy >housing crisis >damage to relations with USA Ditch Ron Dermer Writer suggests #Netanyahu get rid of 'political hack' at embassy - Ron Dermer  presumably -  replace with competent and professional ambassador http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/political-insider/israel-wants-change -- Israel - Non-residents Voting - General Election Israel elections limited absentee votes for citizens abroad mainly for diplomats & other official emissaries Israel - other citizens return to Israel to vote / civic commitment driving force Israel - Woman interviewed says overseas voters not fair having say a on issues affecting her & other permanent residents. Well, yeah, I'd be complaining about that as well ... if it's people that have been away for ages. http://www.jewishaz.com/us_worldnews/israel/for-some-israelis-abroad-cost-and-distance-no-barrier-to/article_7c6104a8-c777-11e4-a102-8f52dd54429f.html -- LatAm  Venezuela Following US sanctions, Venezuela demand: Washington cut embassy staff from about 100 to 17 {same number Caracas is allowed in WA} LatAm Venezuela vehemently criticised new US sanctions. Washington goal:  for new govt to be installed. LatAm Venezuela US = Venezuela top trading partner Venezuela in 2014 = 4th largest oil supplier to USA *trade unaffected by sanctions row http://www.spyghana.com/venezuela-vents-her-anger-on-new-us-sanctions/ --- Rev. Hyeon Soo Lim, 60, #Canada detained #NorthKorea in Feb. #Sweden embassy mediating for US (US = no ties) http://www.christiandaily.com/article/canada.church.prays.for.pastor.detained.in.north.korea/49931.htm #Indonesia #auspol Jakarta = abt 10 death row prisoners to finish legal appeals before setting a date for executions  http://www.echo.net.au/2015/03/sukumaran-paints-jokowi-portrait/ #India Delhi Police baton charged & detained exiled Tibetans staging a protest outside #Chinese Embassy. #Tibet March 10 Tibetan National Uprising Day (1959) http://www.newkerala.com/news/2015/fullnews-29562.html Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between #EU & #KoreaSouth is in effect South Koreans want to suspend NorKs nukes program Bilateral buddies #Latvia  #Latvia   http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/legislation/?doc=103532 -- Said it before and I'll say it again:  look how buddied up the Swedes are with the US, standing in for the US in negotiations with North Korea.

It's On: Sweden Cancels Arms Agreement - Saudi Arabia Pulls Out Ambassador

SWEDEN Abba performing Ring, Ring. (C) 1973 Polar Music International AB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL0EoXdpOqg Eat Your Greens, Stefan -- Sweden calls off SaudiArabia arms deal over human rights. Yeah, right. What's really going on here? Probably some quiet deal. Diplomatic stand-off denied. http://sputniknews.com/politics/20150310/1019318269.html#ixzz3U14IabW -- Sweden vs SaudiArabia  It's On! Annika Söder meeting with ambassador / Saudi informed no arms deal. Saudi's recalled their ambassador.  Unknown if he remains in country.  ........................................................................... GOOGLE TRANSLATE AFTONBLADET Saudi Arabia calls its ambassador Saudi conflict escalates. Saudi Arabia has called its ambassador from Stockholm, Aftonbladet can reveal. Saudi Arabia called yesterday its ambassador in Stockholm, Ibrahim bin Saad bin Ibrahim Al-Brahim, according to data Aftonbladet. - It is in this diplomatic game announced as a backlash from the Saudi side. There is an escalation of the situation, said a source familiar with. Foreign Minister Wallström's press secretary Eric Boman confirm: - UD learned yesterday informed that Saudi Arabia called its ambassador. If he remains in the country or not I do not know. Kabinetssekreterare [Cabinet Secretary] Annika Söder had after telling a meeting with the ambassador yesterday. - It was to inform that the MOU t (CMAA, editor's note) on military cooperation would be terminated. At the same meeting, we performed also From the Saudi embassy would not say anything. - I can not give any comments. It can only be the ambassador himself do, says an assistant at the ambassador's office. He is in Sweden? - No comments. Is there anyone among you who can comment? - No. Yesterday afternoon, Saudi ambassador told that Sweden cancels military cooperation agreement with Saudiarbien. It all took place two days after Saudi Arabia stopped the Foreign Minister, Margot Wallström (S) from speaking on the Arab League meeting in Cairo, citing what she said earlier about democracy and human rights in the country. Ibrahim bin Saad bin Ibrahim Al-Brahim, 71, has been the Saudi ambassador in Stockholm since last year. Before that he was Ambassador to the UAE, Tunisia and Egypt. http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article20448477.ab   Annika Söder  = diplomat & Cabinet Sec. MFA since Oct 2014 Söder originally journalist. source: http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article20448477.ab … [Swe] Further Annika Söder = diplomat & Cabinet Sec. MFA since Oct 2014 Söder originally journalist. 1982 State Department Rank of ambassador Sec of State for Development Cooperation + Humanitarian Affairs from 2002-06. 2007  appointed Assistant Director-General Food + Agriculture Organization (FAO Later also press + communications + cooperation with civil society + business Söder CEO Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, Uppsala (2012) Annika Söder =  daughter of former Foreign Minister and the center conductor Karin Söder     Married to retired Ambassador Anders Bjurner [Wikipedia] COMMENT Quite enjoying the Sweden diplomatic and commercial fiasco, although I have nothing against Sweden itself.  It's the politicians in excruciating positions that I really enjoy. It looks like Sweden has called off the deal, informing the Saudi Arabia ambassador, who has been recalled by his country. Stefan Lofven has probably aged considerably in the last 48 hours or however long this drama's been playing out.  He would have had pressure from corporate types bearing down on him, on the one hand, and fellow politicians spitting the dummy and applying as much (if not more) pressure, on the other.  More pressure was probably felt from fellow politicians, because if the Greens had quit the government (as I understand they threatened to do), it would have been all over for the SDP (who struggled to form a government).  Not sure what next step would have been in that event.  Maybe another deal like they had at Christmas, or maybe another election? The Green party: Ideology Green politics Soft euroscepticism Feminism Political position Centre-left Just as I was wondering how Avigdor Leiberman was taking this (as in, is he in stitches), I came across this Jewish Press article: Sweden Rips Up Saudi Military Deal After Cairo Spat Over Human Rights http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/sweden-rips-up-saudi-military-deal-after-cairo-spat-over-human-rights/2015/03/11/ Was going to do a Jewish Press screen grab of text insert here re Margot Walstrom. Margot rejected again by a Middle Eastern country ... But I noticed you need permission & I couldn't be stuffed e-mailing to do that one tiny thing. Do like the in your face, no mincing words, Jewish approach:   "So Wallstrom was snubbed one more time ...". Yep.  Wallstrom's in a pickle again.  ........................................................................... Someone else who doesn't mice words is this fella: Lord High's tweets are always outrageous, attention grabbing and mostly very, very funny ... But occasionally, they turn a little weird and I think: 'Mein Gott, did he just say that?', he's going to get himself arrested or something. Not because I think he should be, but because I guess I imagine a far more authoritarian climate than it is.  Maybe it's reading all that surveillance, NSA, Five Eye and cable intercept stuff that's done my head in, but I just imagine the Stasi coming down on his twitterverse fun in no time, if he's not careful. [Hoping this post makes sense.  Bit scattered right now.   Too much messing around with info., I think.]

Further Swedish Hilarity - Swedish Gender Awareness Coures for Saudis

GOOGLE TRANSLATE Updated: March 8, 2015 18:16. Published: March 8, 2015 18:03 0 comments Empty clauses in the disputed agreement QUESTION WITH BIG explosive force. Last year, Swedish exports to Saudi Arabia, with the newly appointed king Salman bin Abdul-Aziz, to just over 11 billion. Ericsson, Ikea, Volvo, Scania and Saab are some of the biggest exporters. Saudi Agreement, and the exchange that the agreement means between Sweden and Saudi Arabia, are much less extensive than what has emerged. It may Di reveal. The talks between the two countries have not touched munitions - without visits and training courses, including courses in gender equality. On Friday went 31 business profiles in a joint appeal on DN Debate on the Saudi contract should not be terminated. At the urging of Investor's Chairman Jacob Wallenberg including SEB's CEO Annika Falkengren, Volvo's CEO Olof Persson and Industry CEO, Anders Nyrén signed. The move was the hitherto heaviest backing of Prime Minister Stephen Löfvens line to negotiate - not terminate - the military MoU with Saudi Arabia. The Cabinet ongoing negotiations at the highest level. Output Mode is awkward and prophecies of the government crisis pouring in. Do not talk munitions But Di's review shows that the agreement itself is far less explosive than it has appeared to be. In the group that regularly meets Saudi counterparts under the Agreement are no discussion whatsoever about military equipment. It says Deputy Director Reidar Ljöstad who is chairman of the group regularly meets Saudi counterparts. "The questions are not included in the Committee's work," he says. When Di goes through agreement with him, it is clear that effective cooperation has been much more limited than the agreement (see box). Most of the military issues surrounding maintenance and technology transfer, contained therein, is handled directly between the Saudis and the defense industry, according to Reidar Ljöstad. "There has been much simpler questions that have arisen. We've talked about medical training, exchange of visits and it has been informed of the situation in each country in terms of threats, "he says. [What?] Has standing invitation A question has however come up several times. "The Saudis have been offered some courses. It has been gender courses and courses on how to behave in the UN context. " Have they been invited to gender courses? "They've been several times. It is a standing invitation, "said Reidar Ljöstad. The Centre Party's foreign policy spokesperson Kerstin Lundgren think that the empty sections in itself is an argument that the agreement should be terminated. "It is important that you do not have a contract that gives a picture of reality that makes you lose track of each other if the Saudis want to make one thing we do not want to go with, for example," she says. "It can not be our relations with Saudi Arabia win." "A definite highlight" Valter Mutt, which is a foreign policy spokesman for the Green Party believes that one should not underestimate the symbolic value of the contract is terminated. "Above all, I see this as a clear political statement and that is what makes it sensitive," he says. "It's not okay to behead people in public and whip opponents. That's what it's about. " Footnote: A check with the Armed Forces shows that the Armed Forces' international gender courses have not had any Saudi students in the last two and a half years. http://www.di.se/di/artiklar/2015/3/9/tomma-paragrafer-i-omstritt-avtal/?share=B3F9C8305B2A835A838D64D1DE1EB729 COMMENT Found my way to this article, briefly checking out the blog I'd read from earlier.  Decided to look around a bit and see what else was there.   Thought the gender awareness post on that blog was hilarious. How I'd love to be a fly on the wall at political party meetings in Sweden and at those awkward EU and UN gatherings with what sounds like a clash of a kind I can't even begin to imagine. What the f@%% is the 'Armed Forces' international gender courses'?  Have the Swedish gone insane? PS   I don't even have a vocabulary to begin to index this. What is it?  Is it 'gender politics'?  Is it 'cultural Marxism'?  Is it state sanctioned bullsh*t & officialdom gone nuts?