Senior Saudi minister seeks military cooperation in Sweden
Al-Swedenistan wants closer cooperation with Saudi Arabia. Sweden is a significant weapons manufacturer, and has contracts with other countries, stretching from Pakistan to Brazil:Senior Saudi minister seeks military cooperation in Sweden
Saudi Arabia's Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid Bin Sultan and Swedish Defense Minister Leni Bjorklund signed a memorandum of understanding here on Tuesday over future military cooperation, Swedish media reported. The report said Saudi Arabia wants to buy an airborne radar system developed by Swedish companies Saab AB and LM Ericsson. Neither of the two companies has commented on the report.
Criticism of Saudi Military Cooperation
A senior Saudi government official visited Stockholm Tuesday to discuss military cooperation with Sweden. Saudi Deputy Defence Minister Prince Khalid Bin Sultan and Swedish Defence Minister Leni Bjorklund signed a memorandumof understanding about future military cooperation. Although the Saudi minister insisted that he was not in Sweden to shop, media is speculating that Saudi Arabia wants to buy an airborne radar system developed by Swedish companies. The Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society has criticized the visit. In a statement, the organization’s chairwoman, Frida Blom, called Saudi Arabia ”one of the world’s most brutal dictatorships” andsaid it was a ”scandal” to invite high representativesfrom Saudi Arabia to discuss weapons sales. Speaking to reporters, Bjorklund acknowledged that ”the countries have differentviewpoints” on questions regarding the democratization ofSaudi Arabia, but added that Sweden and Saudi Arabia havequite a long period of cooperation.
"Mock tribunal" slams Swedish asylum policy
Sweden's asylum policy, often praised as one of the most welcoming in Europe, came under heavy fire on Tuesday for not living up to its ideals from intellectuals who attended a symposium in Stockholm. After a two-day hearing, they drew up a list of recommendations including holding Swedish authorities and officials criminally accountable for turning away people seeking asylum on legitimate grounds. "Swedes and people outside really put up Sweden as an example. We're hoping that Sweden can live up to its very good reputation ... and make its asylum policy more just and humane," opera singer Barbara Hendricks, an ambassador to the United Nations refugee agency, told AFP. Responding to some of the criticism, the Swedish parliament last week voted to temporarily give asylum seekers whose application have been rejected a second chance to obtain a residence permit. The asylum tribunal did not directly address the temporary law but hopes to influence a definitive law expected to go into effect next March.
posted by Unknown @ 12:55 PM
5 Comments:
Since the late 1990s the two leading parties in Swedish politics, the Social Democrats and the Moderates (economic liberals), have been relatively restrictive on immigration/refugees (of course, they continue to come via marriages and dependents). The the formerly immigrant-loving Liberal Party have toughened their stance quite a bit (advocating language tests, etc.).
The Green Party and the Left Party are the main instigators behind the recent law change giving amnesty to illegal refugees. They are small, 5% or so each, and not part of the government but are crucial in giving the Social Democrats a majority in the Parliament.
So although those two parties are small they have disproportionate influence over government policy.
After some embarrassing revelations the Left Party (former Communists) look like they will be out of the Parliament after the next elections. The Greens will also most likely loose some power. This should bode for the period 2006-2010.
And it is getting sicker. *Will it soon be Sharia-laws that takes over? From today’s news.
"Children that are exposed to rapes are not violated in the same way as adults and therefore shall have a lesser reparations. That is established today by Svea court of appeal in a judging. A 14-year-old girl, that this summer was raped by a 25 year old man now gets her reparations lowered from 75.000 to 50.000 SEK. The girl, who was sexually inexperienced, had repeatedly rejected the man."
Simulev, where did you find this? Why does the state even pay reparations? To me it is like they are saying "yeah we know we can't help or protect you from these muslim scum, but here, take some money and go away"
Sorry Eye of Oden for going OT, that’s damages as in judged fines.
Staying on Fjordman topic instead so what does Sweden get from Saudi in return?
Saudiarabia pays for mosque
Ooo how lovely, some more imports of Whahabism....
There is still quite a large arms industry in Sweden producing everything from jet fighters, submarines, ships, radar and communication systems to guns of various kinds.
Since the Swedish army is no longer buying as much as it used to (and hasn't for a while) these companies have (for a long time) been very export focused. Most of it goes to other western countries (Europe, US and Australia are top buyers) as well as to countries like Singapore, India and Brazil.
The reason the Saudi deal made into the news is because it's a new market, traditionally dominated by the US. I guess the Saudis want to hedge their bets and not remain dependent on just one supplier.
Post a Comment
<< Home