Reply With QuoteThe new government is very good in my eyes.
Sweden's new center-right foreign policy
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.
Foreign Minister Carl Bildt: Navy low-rank (retired).
EU-minister: Cecilia Malmström (fp)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.
Other former officers: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.
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
John 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.Full text and other info is here: http://www.sweden.gov.se/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.
The new government is very good in my eyes.
Seems like the swedish boys is going to do a lot more travelling around the world than today with all these soldiers as ministers and specially with Carl Bildt as foreign minister
BTW, according to mil.se (http://www.mil.se/index.php?lang=S&c=news&id=34174) our new defenceminister had 10-9-9 in grades after basic military course...thats pretty good. (10 is the highest)
Now we have a former marine as a defenceminister and a marine as a supreme commander over the defenceforces (ÖB)... time to buy/build an Enforcer LPD to our amphibious battalions?
http://www.scheldeshipbuilding.com/enforcer/
Good news!
How will the foreign policy change from the previos leadership?
I THINK, it will mean a closer relationship with NATO and surely a closer partnership with the EU-forces. More money (and therefore) more swedish troups available for EU/NATO-operations. There is a risk where moving towards a professional defenceforce (the new defenceminister has indicated that) but I hope (and think) we´ll keep our compulsory military service.Originally Posted by Smersh
With our new foreignminister (Carl Bildt) I´m pretty shure it means more swedish troups will be sent abroad and with the new leadership (specially the defenceminister) I´m shure it will be with the best equipment available (ie more money to the military)
Other things I fear is that the the new government will not be to hasty to critizise other contries for fear of economic or other setbacks, so no so much critizism against Israel, China or other such contries. All for the buisness and western adjustment.
Your Minister of Finance is mentally retarded according to norwegian news, is this true?
How will they view Israel?
They are more Israelfriendly then the previous government. That does´nt mean they are Israelasslickers like USA.
??? I think it is the norwegian news that are retarded
From satellite photos, like everyone else.
Yeap as mentioned, less hostile.. more neutral. In the old gov only the Prime minister was friendly and he had to work against his own left-center coalition and mumblings within his own party.
The new PM said he would normalize relations and be more neutral and thus less hypocritical, they went out strongly against those travel visas for hamas ministers earlier this year. And now we have gotten rid of the left-party who wanted to stop defense cooperation...
Actually, as the situation has changed, it would be stupid to stick with conscription. But as swedes in general and S-voters in perticular are very, very conservative I would not be surprised if reason would fail and we continue to use conscription.It is never good to be "too hasty"...Other things I fear is that the the new government will not be to hasty to critizise other contries for fear of economic or other setbacks, so no so much critizism against Israel, China or other such contries. All for the buisness and western adjustment.I would rather say that they lack the Israelophobia of the socialists...
Our new finance minister is much welcomed by the swedish market. That's a plus i my book. I'm content, maybe very content with the choice of ministers for the new government. I see a brighter future for Sweden.
Me too, nice job by the Swedish voters. Hopefully Finland will follow suit shortly and show the social democrats the door.
Also that Gripen deliveres come to an end (although 31 more jets will be bought using some A/B parts) and also Visby is delivered, means there's more money too in the period between now and the future (?) A26, SEP and YS-NY projects. I can't think of anything really expensive being delivered in the 2007-2012 time frame that is ordered now. Other than the helicopters.
state budget on the 16th... if they keep their promise there will be a small increase to military ops and hopefully a decison on C-17 too. But imo they can't for political reasons do too much this first 6/12 months for the military.
Posting Permissions
