signatory
10-06-2006, 02:19 PM
Some say a new era... Thought I'd paste the info concerning foreign relations. Oh and since this is MP.net maybe it's interesting to hear that of the male ministers, over 50% is or have been officers in the military. Our previous Defense Minister (woman) was a general secretary of the Swedish church.. stupid stupid.. so this is a interesting change. We shall see.
Defense Minister Mikael Odenberg: Major in the Amphibious corps reserve (then coast artillery) Grades: 10/8/9. In parliament since 1991.
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/4683/odenberg200pxqw7.jpg
Foreign Minister Carl Bildt: Navy low-rank (retired). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Bildt)
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/3416/200pxcarlbildt20010515jy6.jpg
served as the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for the Balkans.
He is a Commander of the Légion d'honneur and has been awarded a honorary doctorate from the University of St Andrews. He is, among other things, chairman of the board of directors for Kreab and serves in RAND's board of trustees.
EU-minister: Cecilia Malmström (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecilia_Malmstr%C3%B6m)(fp)
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/2003/150pxceciliamalmstrc3b6mna2.jpg
Anna Cecilia Malmström (born 15 May 1968 in Stockholm) is Minister for European Union in Sweden and a Member of the European Parliament. Cecilia Malmström grew up in Gothenburg and in France. She speaks Swedish, English, Spanish and French fluently, and also decent German and Italian.
Malmström has also initiated the oneseat.eu [1] web campaign, which aims to make the European Parliament permanently seated in Brussels.
Other former officers:
School Minister Björklund: Major in the Army's Armored Reserve
Migration Minister Billström: Navy, Lieutenant (1/2?) on HMS Stockholm
Labour Minister Littorin : Second Lieutenant Artillery Regiment
(there's 22 ministers in total, 11 men.)
Prime Minister Reinfeldt: 'Army Mountain Rangers' Grades: 10/9/9 class first
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4328/fredrikreinfeldt640it4.jpg
John Fredrik Reinfeldt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredrik_Reinfeldt), born August 4, 1965 in Österhaninge) is the current Prime Minister of Sweden and leader of the liberal conservative Moderate Party (Swedish: Moderata samlingspartiet).
Excerpts from The new Government Policy:
The Government will pursue an active foreign policy that takes on the global challenges and gains respect around the world. Sweden will work for an EU that continues enlargement, an EU that is leaner yet sharper and concentrates on fewer and genuinely cross-border issues.
The Nordic and Baltic Sea region must be Europe’s strongest growth region. Every opportunity to strengthen our cooperation should be harnessed. The Barents cooperation will be further developed. The EU needs a long-term strategy for cooperation and relations with Russia. The strategic importance of Ukraine for our part of Europe must not be underestimated.
Sweden must have a clear and unquestioned place at the heart of European cooperation.
We want to see a stronger Europe step forth as a voice for peace, freedom and reconciliation even in the parts of the world that are dominated by war and conflicts. Helping to bridge the conflicts in the Middle East must be one of the European Union’s most important tasks in the years ahead.
A future solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians must build on a two-state solution under which both parties can live within secure and recognised borders.
Sweden will forcefully fight serious, cross-border crime such as trafficking in human beings, weapons and drugs, as well as terrorism. Crime that targets vital public services must be fought.
Preventive measures must be taken against terrorism, and we must do our utmost to prevent attacks being carried out in our country. Sweden will increase cooperation within the EU and cooperate globally to fight terrorism.
Sweden does not participate in military alliances. The future security of our country is based on community and cooperation with other countries.
The demand from the UN, the EU and NATO for Swedish participation in international operations has never been greater. Sweden should have an increased potential to take part in different international peace missions.
Sweden should work for a strengthening of the transatlantic link.
Sweden should strengthen its relations with Asia, not least with Asia’s large growing economies.
The crisis in Darfur is one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes of our time. The international community must make additional efforts to stop the attacks on the civilian population and bring the conflict to an end.
Action to strengthen democracy will be given higher priority. Special measures will be taken to promote democracy in dictatorships such as Cuba and Belarus.
Sweden must have a humane refugee policy and provide refuge for people fleeing from persecution and oppression.
Poverty can be eradicated and epidemics driven back, but this requires a far broader approach to poverty alleviation, a rise in the level of total international aid, more effective and efficient use of aid, a better developed market economy and the elimination of harmful protectionism.
A common theme in the Government’s integration policy will be the elimination of obstacles and the creation of new opportunities. People who have migrated to Sweden must be respected as individuals and not regarded as a homogeneous group. After the initial phase in Sweden, no special policy for immigrants is needed; what is needed is a policy that liberates people’s inner strength and breaks down the social exclusion that has gained a foothold in Sweden.
Sweden must push for the establishment of clear goals for reducing the use of fossil fuels in the EU, and actively contribute to the realisation of the common goals set up by the EU. A sequel to the Kyoto Agreement should be reached as soon as possible. Sweden must be proactive in bringing about strategic energy cooperation among the EU, China and India with the aim of supporting their efforts to limit their emissions of greenhouse gases.
A national marine environment strategy for the Baltic Sea and the Skagerrak and Kattegat must be developed.
Full text and other info is here: http://www.sweden.gov.se/
Defense Minister Mikael Odenberg: Major in the Amphibious corps reserve (then coast artillery) Grades: 10/8/9. In parliament since 1991.
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/4683/odenberg200pxqw7.jpg
Foreign Minister Carl Bildt: Navy low-rank (retired). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Bildt)
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/3416/200pxcarlbildt20010515jy6.jpg
served as the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for the Balkans.
He is a Commander of the Légion d'honneur and has been awarded a honorary doctorate from the University of St Andrews. He is, among other things, chairman of the board of directors for Kreab and serves in RAND's board of trustees.
EU-minister: Cecilia Malmström (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecilia_Malmstr%C3%B6m)(fp)
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/2003/150pxceciliamalmstrc3b6mna2.jpg
Anna Cecilia Malmström (born 15 May 1968 in Stockholm) is Minister for European Union in Sweden and a Member of the European Parliament. Cecilia Malmström grew up in Gothenburg and in France. She speaks Swedish, English, Spanish and French fluently, and also decent German and Italian.
Malmström has also initiated the oneseat.eu [1] web campaign, which aims to make the European Parliament permanently seated in Brussels.
Other former officers:
School Minister Björklund: Major in the Army's Armored Reserve
Migration Minister Billström: Navy, Lieutenant (1/2?) on HMS Stockholm
Labour Minister Littorin : Second Lieutenant Artillery Regiment
(there's 22 ministers in total, 11 men.)
Prime Minister Reinfeldt: 'Army Mountain Rangers' Grades: 10/9/9 class first
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4328/fredrikreinfeldt640it4.jpg
John Fredrik Reinfeldt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredrik_Reinfeldt), born August 4, 1965 in Österhaninge) is the current Prime Minister of Sweden and leader of the liberal conservative Moderate Party (Swedish: Moderata samlingspartiet).
Excerpts from The new Government Policy:
The Government will pursue an active foreign policy that takes on the global challenges and gains respect around the world. Sweden will work for an EU that continues enlargement, an EU that is leaner yet sharper and concentrates on fewer and genuinely cross-border issues.
The Nordic and Baltic Sea region must be Europe’s strongest growth region. Every opportunity to strengthen our cooperation should be harnessed. The Barents cooperation will be further developed. The EU needs a long-term strategy for cooperation and relations with Russia. The strategic importance of Ukraine for our part of Europe must not be underestimated.
Sweden must have a clear and unquestioned place at the heart of European cooperation.
We want to see a stronger Europe step forth as a voice for peace, freedom and reconciliation even in the parts of the world that are dominated by war and conflicts. Helping to bridge the conflicts in the Middle East must be one of the European Union’s most important tasks in the years ahead.
A future solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians must build on a two-state solution under which both parties can live within secure and recognised borders.
Sweden will forcefully fight serious, cross-border crime such as trafficking in human beings, weapons and drugs, as well as terrorism. Crime that targets vital public services must be fought.
Preventive measures must be taken against terrorism, and we must do our utmost to prevent attacks being carried out in our country. Sweden will increase cooperation within the EU and cooperate globally to fight terrorism.
Sweden does not participate in military alliances. The future security of our country is based on community and cooperation with other countries.
The demand from the UN, the EU and NATO for Swedish participation in international operations has never been greater. Sweden should have an increased potential to take part in different international peace missions.
Sweden should work for a strengthening of the transatlantic link.
Sweden should strengthen its relations with Asia, not least with Asia’s large growing economies.
The crisis in Darfur is one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes of our time. The international community must make additional efforts to stop the attacks on the civilian population and bring the conflict to an end.
Action to strengthen democracy will be given higher priority. Special measures will be taken to promote democracy in dictatorships such as Cuba and Belarus.
Sweden must have a humane refugee policy and provide refuge for people fleeing from persecution and oppression.
Poverty can be eradicated and epidemics driven back, but this requires a far broader approach to poverty alleviation, a rise in the level of total international aid, more effective and efficient use of aid, a better developed market economy and the elimination of harmful protectionism.
A common theme in the Government’s integration policy will be the elimination of obstacles and the creation of new opportunities. People who have migrated to Sweden must be respected as individuals and not regarded as a homogeneous group. After the initial phase in Sweden, no special policy for immigrants is needed; what is needed is a policy that liberates people’s inner strength and breaks down the social exclusion that has gained a foothold in Sweden.
Sweden must push for the establishment of clear goals for reducing the use of fossil fuels in the EU, and actively contribute to the realisation of the common goals set up by the EU. A sequel to the Kyoto Agreement should be reached as soon as possible. Sweden must be proactive in bringing about strategic energy cooperation among the EU, China and India with the aim of supporting their efforts to limit their emissions of greenhouse gases.
A national marine environment strategy for the Baltic Sea and the Skagerrak and Kattegat must be developed.
Full text and other info is here: http://www.sweden.gov.se/