Swedish government repeats support for EU enlargement (Roundup)

Feb 17, 2010, 16:24 GMT

Stockholm - Enlargement of the European Union and keeping military forces in Afghanistan remained Swedish foreign policy priorities, Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said Wednesday in presenting the government's foreign policy statement.

Defending human rights, democracy and freedom of expression were also key, he said.

These freedoms included the internet, Bildt said, adding that the government was 'concerned to note that information technology is being abused to a growing extent by certain actions to combat the free exchange of opinions, thoughts and ideas.'

Bildt, who blogs daily on foreign policy matters, later told reporters that he hoped Sweden would take a lead role in the field of internet, which was becoming more and more important against the backdrop of ongoing globalization.

The government's foreign policy statement also touched on free trade, disarmament, climate change and global poverty reduction.

'Only by successfully completing our mission in Afghanistan can we show that the losses (we) suffer are not in vain,' Bildt earlier told parliament, referring to the recent deaths of two Swedish soldiers in Afghanistan.

While the commitment was 'long-term,' Bildt told reporters that 'the nature of the commitment will change,' with Afghanistan taking more and more responsibility for security.

Bildt underlined the key role the EU has for Sweden, saying membership in the bloc 'is the best way to safeguard our values and national interests in an increasingly complex world.'

Asked about changes in the EU after the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, including the creation of a new president of the council of EU member states and an EU foreign policy director, Bildt said 'it (the EU) will take its time to set up properly functioning structures.'

The process was similar to a presidential transition in the US, he said.

During the debate, the three opposition parties challenging the ruling centre-right government presented a joint foreign policy platform. Elections are due in September.

Bildt said the document lacked statements on the EU and also on Afghanistan, saying this reflected 'deep divisions' between the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Left Party.

On EU enlargement he noted that 'by allowing the doors of the EU to remain open, we make a considerable contribution to peace and democracy on our continent,' citing the Western Balkans.

On Turkey, Sweden would continue to work for its inclusion, Bildt said, adding that the EU 'will be both more dynamic economically and stronger politically with Turkey as a member.'

He also voiced concern over recent arrests of Turkish politicians, and told reporters that he hoped some reform bills blocked in the parliament would pass.

Left Party lawmaker Hans Linde underlined that the opposition also welcomed Turkey as a future EU member if the country fulfilled membership criteria, but would move to recognize the 1915 killings of Armenians and other minorities under the Ottoman Empire.

Armenians and others have said these events were genocide. Turkey has denied this.

On the Middle East, Bildt said 'it is of central importance for stability in the Middle East that a credible peace process between Israelis and Palestinians is established.'

Bildt and several lawmakers also mentioned Swedish-Eritrean journalist Dawit Isaak who was jailed in September 2001. The Eritrean government has never filed formal charges against Isaak.