Belarus expels Swedish ambassadorAugust 4, 2012 - 15:53 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Sweden's ambassador to Belarus has been expelled "for being too supportive of human rights" and meeting with the country’s opposition, the Swedish foreign minister said Friday, August 3, according to AP. Carl Bildt called the move "outrageous" and said Sweden in turn won't allow in the incoming Belarusian ambassador. Two Belarusian diplomats also have been asked to leave the Nordic country, the foreign minister said. "This is a serious violation against the norms for relations between states," Bildt said, calling the accusations against Ambassador Stefan Eriksson "ridiculous." Eriksson, who was in Sweden when the expulsion was announced Friday, had previously met with opposition activists in the Belarusian capital, Minsk. That irritated the regime of Belarus's longtime leader, President Alexander Lukashenko, who rules the country with an iron fist, Bildt said. "The accusations lack substance," Bildt told reporters. "Basically this is about Sweden being active in advocating democracy and human rights in Belarus." There was no immediate word from the Belarusian government on the decision. The expulsion also comes weeks after a pair of Swedish activists used a light plane to drop hundreds of teddy bears bearing messages supportive of human rights into Belarusian territory. Lukashenko fired two generals over the incident. Bildt, however, said there was no word that the teddy bear dropped was linked to the expulsion. "That has not been mentioned in this context whatsoever," he said, but noted "it might have had an impact on the general atmosphere." Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |