Big blow for Barents Council as Swedish FM skips meeting with Lavrov in Tromsø, and gives priority to hosting a NATO seminar, thebarentsobserver.com

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov talks very enthusiastic about Europe’s northernmost cross-border political- and practical cooperation.

“It goes without saying that in the harsh climate and environment of the north, economic activity can only be carried out through joint efforts and exchange of experience,” Lavrov says ahead of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council meeting taking place in Tromsø, northern Norway on Monday and Tuesday.

The press service of Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirms in an email to the Barents Observer that Lavrov will come to the meeting in-person. […]

Sweden, the host of the Barents Council 2019-meeting in Umeå, is the only of the four countries in northernmost Europe that will not be represented with its foreign minister in Tromsø.

Instead of going to Tromsø, Foreign Minister Ann Linde will host a seminar on “Security Challenges in the Baltic Region” in Stockholm. The seminar will be attended by members of the North Atlantic Council, the principal political decision-making body within NATO. Läs artikel