bobdina
08-04-2010, 01:05 AM
Sweden may send more soldiers to Afghanistan
Sweden's government ready to bolster Afghan troop levels.
Sweden's government on Monday said it would be open to extending the mission of its 500 troops serving in Afghanistan and could send more soldiers to the country if it wins the September 19 election.
"The (government) alliance wants to extend the mission of the Swedish force in Afghanistan and is open to an increase of the military contribution if the safety situation requires it," Defence Minister Sten Tolgfors wrote in Dagens Nyheter, a leading Swedish daily.
"We see our participation the international crisis management missions under popular mandate as an expression of solidarity and responsibility of Sweden in the world," he said in a text which was also signed by the defence spokespeople of the three other parties in power.
One of the first decisions to be taken by the newly elected parliament after the September 19 election is to decide if it will continue or not the mandate of its troops in Afghanistan.
Some 500 Swedish troops are currently posted in the North of Afghanistan, serving in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Swedish troops were sent to the country in early 2002, even though Sweden is officially neutral and not a member of Nato.
The Swedish opposition coalition, made up of the Social-Democrat, Left and Green parties, is divided on the presence of Swedish troops in Afghanistan and has not yet said what it would do if it wins the election, but said it would clarify its position before the vote.
Last Updated (Monday, 02 August 2010 14:53)
http://www.swedishwire.com/component/content/article/2:politics/5618:sweden-may-send-more-soldiers-to-afghanistan
Sweden's government ready to bolster Afghan troop levels.
Sweden's government on Monday said it would be open to extending the mission of its 500 troops serving in Afghanistan and could send more soldiers to the country if it wins the September 19 election.
"The (government) alliance wants to extend the mission of the Swedish force in Afghanistan and is open to an increase of the military contribution if the safety situation requires it," Defence Minister Sten Tolgfors wrote in Dagens Nyheter, a leading Swedish daily.
"We see our participation the international crisis management missions under popular mandate as an expression of solidarity and responsibility of Sweden in the world," he said in a text which was also signed by the defence spokespeople of the three other parties in power.
One of the first decisions to be taken by the newly elected parliament after the September 19 election is to decide if it will continue or not the mandate of its troops in Afghanistan.
Some 500 Swedish troops are currently posted in the North of Afghanistan, serving in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Swedish troops were sent to the country in early 2002, even though Sweden is officially neutral and not a member of Nato.
The Swedish opposition coalition, made up of the Social-Democrat, Left and Green parties, is divided on the presence of Swedish troops in Afghanistan and has not yet said what it would do if it wins the election, but said it would clarify its position before the vote.
Last Updated (Monday, 02 August 2010 14:53)
http://www.swedishwire.com/component/content/article/2:politics/5618:sweden-may-send-more-soldiers-to-afghanistan