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Reinfeldt approved Saudi arms factory: report

Published: 9 Mar 12 14:24 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/39582/20120309/

Sweden's prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt approved plans to build an arms factory in Saudi Arabia, revealed Sveriges Radio (SR) on Friday.

News of Sweden's participation in the arms factory build broke earlier this week, as information from the classified 'Simoom' project was made public.

On Friday, The Local reported that defense minister Sten Tolgfors, although having previously denied this, turned out to have been aware of the factory, according to reports in newspaper Svenska Dagbladet (SvD).

Now, the latest developments indicate that Sweden's prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt also knew of the deal. SR revealed that Reinfeldt approved the arms factory at a government meeting on 20 November, 2008.

"Fredrik Reinfeldt was present, as chairman, as he usually is," said the Ministry of Defense's secretary to SR .

"Odell, Leijonborg, Larsson, Carlgren, Hägglund, Carlsson, Borg, Malmström, Sabuni, Billström, Tolgfors and Björling were there too."

In other words, as well as prime minister Reinfeldt and defense minister Tolgfors, several representatives from the Liberal Party (Folkpartiet) and the Christian Democrats were present at the meeting.

The decision taken at the meeting on 20 November, 2008 is quoted by SR:

"FOI is authorized to negotiate a project deal, as part of their research deal with the Saudi authority concerned, of their participation as consultants in order for Saudi Arabia to independently be able to create secure use of explosives in the country, using Swedish knowledge and Swedish models, as well as renovating and modifying existing anti-tank weapons."

The Left Party is now prepared to demand defense minister Tolgfors's resignation, according to SvD, and the Greens are demanding that the entire affair be investigated by the Committee on the Constitution (Konstitutionsutskottet).

Clara Guibourg (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

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17:11 March 9, 2012 by OUIJA
Where is the neutral flag? It is quite dirty now.It should be washed very thoroughly. Many decades in the mud are showing up and it looks they will provoke an earthquake.
17:33 March 9, 2012 by engagebrain
In many countries being caught lying in Parliament, that is officially, means resignation.
18:04 March 9, 2012 by CJ from Sunshine Desserts
Look on the bright side lads, his hot (ex) wife is now single & up for grabs ! See you in the Cafe Operan at the weekend -lippa ! Wouldn`t it be funny when its her turn to have the kids & he turns up with his entourage.....OK probably a nanny.....
21:32 March 9, 2012 by Sumpton
Follow the money and cronyism. Secret deals are how cronyism works. Cronyism are kickbacks from the profit of oppression--the theft of freedom.
03:24 March 10, 2012 by philster61
Just another long line of sordid deals Sweden has done over its history of "neutrality"....
05:27 March 10, 2012 by Kublai
Of course Reinfeldt approved of it. After all, Saudiarabia financed Nya Moderaterna's latest election campaign.
08:27 March 10, 2012 by rise
"...using Swedish knowledge and Swedish models..."

Why export this kind of knowledge from Sweden? Reinfeldt & Co should be prosecuted for treason!
09:27 March 10, 2012 by OUIJA
I can see that politically correctness is not functioning quite well. I congratulate the previous posters because they are writing what the Swedish people is entitled to know. Sweden has a government with a pack of liars, the first one, being the so-called Prime Minister.
09:44 March 10, 2012 by gh2008
@Kublai,

is it a joke? if not, source?
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