Hillary Clinton heads for Stockholm

Published: 2 Jun 12 09:45 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/41206/20120602/

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is heading for Stockholm next on her rushed tour of Scandinavia, as her plane from Norway to Stockholm lifts off on Saturday evening.

On Friday Clinton met with survivors from the Utya massacre.

On issues of security and peace, on human rights and development, the US has no better partner than Norway, said Clinton with a smile, whilst attending a lunch hosted by Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

Clinton had specifically requested a meeting with survivors from last summers massacre at Utya, and on Friday afternoon met with Eskild Pederson, leader of the social democratic youth party AUF, and several others, reported news agency NTB.

Clinton also discussed the Arctic Troms area, as well as concern for the continued flow of weapons into Syria with her Norwegian colleague Jonas Gahr Stre.

Both the Arctic and Syria are likely to be top of the agenda in Sweden as well. On Saturday evening, when Clinton lands on Stockholm airport Arlandas tarmac, Foreign Minister Carl Bildt will be there to welcome her.

Her 24-hour visit in Stockholm looks to be! jam-pac ked with meetings.

Clinton will be meeting Carl Bildt and Defense Minister Karin Engstrm for talks on a boat trip through Stockholms archipelago, meeting Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and discussing how to lower emissions causing climate change at an environmental conference together with Crown Princess Victoria.

Swedens foreign ministry and police force prepared for the visit on Friday, planning for the huge safety measures which surround Clintons visit. In Norway, the Secretary of States motorcade consisted of no fewer than 13 cars, and they wont be any fewer in Stockholm.

As Clintons visit coincides with Stockholm Marathon on Saturday and a veteran car event on Sunday, traffic trouble is to be expected.

Where the motorcade passes by well stop all other traffic so that they can pass, said Stockholm police officer Kjell Lindgren to news agency TT.