Brussels, 13/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, Swedish Prime Minister, Göran Persson explained that the new Swedish security policy resulting from an agreement between the government and the main opposition parties confirmed that Sweden wanted to participate in international co-operation efforts between the EU and UN. A brief text distributed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs underlines Sweden's participation in the European Union, a Community of solidarity for whom the major objective was to avoid war on the European continent. It also mentioned the fact that although Sweden would not participate in military alliances, it was becoming clearer that security was not limited to the absence of military conflicts and that the best way to deal with security threats was the Community and co-operation with other countries.
Via the TT press agency, AFP reported that Göran Persson had confirmed that the heart of their policy was non-military and that he did not see any signs of Sweden moving into a military alliance. Mr Persson added that they did, nevertheless, wish to co-operate with NATO countries and that this policy would be applied on a case-by-case basis.