Stockholm - Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt on Wednesday
expressed disappointment over certain developments in neighbouring
Russia during a foreign policy debate in parliament.
During the presentation of the government's foreign policy, Bildt
praised increased 'business activity and human contacts' with Russia
but noted some 'steps backwards.'
'The political climate and the media climate (in Russia) alike
have become less free. Sometimes we have seen examples of the
language of force being used against neighbouring states that have
led us to react. We are still seeing breaches of human rights in
Chechnya,' Bildt said.
He also mentioned the unsolved murders of Russian reporter Anna
Politkovskaya and former agent Alexander Litvinenko.
The wide-ranging statement underlined Sweden's commitment to the
European Union and that the bloc should remain 'open to all European
democracies that meet the requirements of membership.'
Bildt noted that Sweden would also increase its bilateral ties
with the Ukraine and criticized 'the lack of democracy and civil
liberties and rights in Belarus'.
The foreign minister said Sweden remained committed to free trade
and believed it would also benefit developing countries.
On the Middle East, Bildt said 'the free and democratic elections
held on the West Bank and in Gaza are a step in the building of the
Palestinian state.
But any successful state-building process in Palestine also
presupposes a government whose policies reflect the demands made by
the international community, including respect for existing
agreements and the State of Israel's right to exist.'
Urban Ahlin of the opposition Social Democrats presented an
alternative declaration that focused on globalization, and urged a
tougher stance against Sudan.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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