Swedish foreign minister concerned over events in Kenya (Roundup)

Jan 2, 2008, 17:08 GMT

Stockholm - Swedish nationals were Wednesday recommended to refrain from 'non-essential' trips to Kenya over the recent violence in the wake of disputed presidential polls.

Developments in Kenya were 'of grave concern,' Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt told reporters at a briefing.

'We have seen an escalation of violence,' Bildt said, noting that it was 'ethnically motivated' and that the security situation was worrying but so far there were no reports that tourists were targeted.

Bildt said remarks by the head of the Kenyan election commission that suggested even he was not sure who had won the presidential polls were 'sensational.'

The Swedish foreign minister said he supported efforts by among others the African Union to help end the violence, but also called on Kenyan leaders to engage in a dialogue.

The main flaws appeared to be related to the vote counting, Bildt said, adding that he backed a recount of the ballots under international auspices - if ballot papers and electoral registries were complete.

During a meeting with reporters at the Foreign Ministry, Bildt touched on other themes he raised earlier Wednesday in an op-ed article in Stockholm daily Dagens Nyheter including his concerns over developments in Russia.

The Swedish foreign minister said that with Russian presidential elections due in March a 'new leadership may perhaps offer possibilities of new cooperation,' noting disarmament as one potential area.

Bildt said that he, like most other observers he knew of, tipped that outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin's designate Dmitry Medvedev would win the elections.

Concerning the European Union, Bildt reiterated that Sweden favoured a future enlargement of the bloc and that the member states needed to ratify the recent Lisbon Treaty on reforming the EU's internal rules.

The EU also needed to review its 'diplomatic, economic and military' capacities if it is to serve as a 'real peace power,' Bildt said in the article.

Among challenges in 2008 were seeking a viable solution to the status of Kosovo, Bildt said, adding the need to secure the rights of minorities including Serbs and the Roma.

On the Middle East peace process, Bildt said his talks with various contacts had convinced him that there was 'a new commitment' in Washington to engage in the process and that was also reflected at the recent US-backed Annapolis peace conference.

Bildt said Sweden would consider a possible request to increase its contribution to ISAF forces in Afghanistan but said no such request had been made.

The Swedish foreign minister underlined his concern that Afghanistan was the world's largest supplier of opium, used to produce heroin.

The illicit drugs production 'fuels the Taliban-led insurgency,' he said, adding more international efforts should focus on combating the illicit trade.