Cambodia Loses Swedish Embassy Section Office but Keeps Consular Services

CEOCambodiaNews · Post by **CEOCambodiaNews** » Wed Sep 18, 2024 7:51 am

Swedish Embassy Section Office in Phnom Penh to Close, Consular Services to Continue

[CAMBODIA NEWS] The Swedish Embassy Section Office in Phnom Penh is set to close on September 30, 2024, but consular services for Swedish citizens in Cambodia will continue through the Swedish Consulate in Phnom Penh, according to a statement from Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The Ministry's spokesperson provided additional clarification on September 17, 2024, following an initial announcement on September 16. The Swedish Embassy in Bangkok will continue to represent Sweden in its relations with Cambodia after the closure of the Phnom Penh office.

Despite the closure, the Swedish Consulate in Phnom Penh will remain open to provide consular services to Swedish citizens residing in Cambodia. The decision to close the embassy section office was reportedly made by the Swedish government as part of a global reprioritization effort in response to changing international dynamics, particularly following the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The spokesperson emphasized that while the Swedish Embassy Office is closing, several other countries have recently expanded their diplomatic presence in Cambodia. These include the opening of a Turkish Trade Office in April 2023, an Australian Trade and Investment Office in January 2024, and a Canadian Consular Office in Siem Reap in February 2024.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation was initially notified of the closure decision in March 2024. The Swedish government cited the need to focus on economic development, peace, and security in its immediate neighborhood as reasons for the restructuring.

The spokesperson concluded by dismissing any attempts to interpret the embassy section office closure for political purposes, stating that the decision was purely administrative and part of Sweden's global diplomatic restructuring.

xtreme · Post by **xtreme** » Wed Sep 18, 2024 8:01 am

Who do I have to xxxx to get a consul position?

Swetex · Post by **Swetex** » Sat Sep 21, 2024 2:54 am

Sweden took that decision after the election when Cambodia National Rescue Party was banned and i known the embassy to start closing since then. Russia Ukraine conflict has nothing to do with it. This reporting is inaccurate.

Sweden spent hundreds of millions in aid to Cambodia on top of what they give through their membership in the EU and if you remember from back in the days the Swedish ambassador stayed with Sokha when he was barricaded in his parties office despite HE openly condemning her to do so.

Then when CNRP was dissolved Sweden basically had enough. Whats the point spending all this money and decades of work for democracy development just to have it all vanished over night? That was the purpose of the Swedish embassy here to aid Cambodias development, not to aid Swedish citizens. They did not provide more services then a consulate to begin with.

Felgerkarb · Post by **Felgerkarb** » Sat Sep 21, 2024 4:29 am

Swetex wrote: ↑Sat Sep 21, 2024 2:54 am Sweden took that decision after the election when Cambodia National Rescue Party was banned and i known the embassy to start closing since then. Russia Ukraine conflict has nothing to do with it. This reporting is inaccurate.

Sweden spent hundreds of millions in aid to Cambodia on top of what they give through their membership in the EU and if you remember from back in the days the Swedish ambassador stayed with Sokha when he was barricaded in his parties office despite HE openly condemning her to do so.

Then when CNRP was dissolved Sweden basically had enough. Whats the point spending all this money and decades of work for democracy development just to have it all vanished over night? That was the purpose of the Swedish embassy here to aid Cambodias development, not to aid Swedish citizens. They did not provide more services then a consulate to begin with.

Before UNTAC came, I worked with the Swedes on these issues. In those days they handled things for US persons in Cambodia. I used to go drinking with a few nurses from the Swedish Red Cross that lived in the Cambodiana -- the only white women I remember seeing around Phnom Penh pre-UNTAC except for that French nun and Crazy Nancy (or did Nancy come later, i forget...it is all a blur now).

John Bingham · Post by **John Bingham** » Sat Sep 21, 2024 3:41 pm

Swetex wrote: ↑Sat Sep 21, 2024 2:54 am Sweden took that decision after the election when Cambodia National Rescue Party was banned and i known the embassy to start closing since then. Russia Ukraine conflict has nothing to do with it. This reporting is inaccurate.

Sweden spent hundreds of millions in aid to Cambodia on top of what they give through their membership in the EU and if you remember from back in the days the Swedish ambassador stayed with Sokha when he was barricaded in his parties office despite HE openly condemning her to do so.

Then when CNRP was dissolved Sweden basically had enough. Whats the point spending all this money and decades of work for democracy development just to have it all vanished over night? That was the purpose of the Swedish embassy here to aid Cambodias development, not to aid Swedish citizens. They did not provide more services then a consulate to begin with.

Why did they support a xenophobic and racist party that would have dragged Cambodia back into war and ruined decades of progress?

Jerry Atrick · Post by **Jerry Atrick** » Sat Sep 21, 2024 3:50 pm

John Bingham wrote: ↑Sat Sep 21, 2024 3:41 pm
Swetex wrote: ↑Sat Sep 21, 2024 2:54 am Sweden took that decision after the election when Cambodia National Rescue Party was banned and i known the embassy to start closing since then. Russia Ukraine conflict has nothing to do with it. This reporting is inaccurate.

Sweden spent hundreds of millions in aid to Cambodia on top of what they give through their membership in the EU and if you remember from back in the days the Swedish ambassador stayed with Sokha when he was barricaded in his parties office despite HE openly condemning her to do so.

Then when CNRP was dissolved Sweden basically had enough. Whats the point spending all this money and decades of work for democracy development just to have it all vanished over night? That was the purpose of the Swedish embassy here to aid Cambodias development, not to aid Swedish citizens. They did not provide more services then a consulate to begin with.
Why did they support a xenophobic and racist party that would have dragged Cambodia back into war and ruined decades of progress?

It's the democratic playbook, as practiced by the US donkey faction and NATO nations globally, isn't it?

Incite unrest, prop up a puppet opposition who will then do your countries bidding to cover their own ass when they get into power

johnny lightning · Post by **johnny lightning** » Sun Sep 22, 2024 4:47 am

Why did they support a xenophobic and racist party that would have dragged Cambodia back into war and ruined decades of progress?

So you're good with dictatorships as long as they are "benevolent"? This is a joke, right?

aseriesoftubes · Post by **aseriesoftubes** » Sun Sep 22, 2024 3:03 pm

Swetex wrote: ↑Sat Sep 21, 2024 2:54 am Sweden took that decision after the election when Cambodia National Rescue Party was banned and i known the embassy to start closing since then. Russia Ukraine conflict has nothing to do with it. This reporting is inaccurate.

Not sure who is correct here, but from what I can Google at least, this is basically a repetition of an announcement that was reported by local news back in 2021?

"Sweden shuts Phnom Penh embassy - Consulate remains".

Swetex · Post by **Swetex** » Tue Sep 24, 2024 1:22 pm

aseriesoftubes wrote: ↑Sun Sep 22, 2024 3:03 pm
Swetex wrote: ↑Sat Sep 21, 2024 2:54 am Sweden took that decision after the election when Cambodia National Rescue Party was banned and i known the embassy to start closing since then. Russia Ukraine conflict has nothing to do with it. This reporting is inaccurate.
Not sure who is correct here, but from what I can Google at least, this is basically a repetition of an announcement that was reported by local news back in 2021?

"Sweden shuts Phnom Penh embassy - Consulate remains".

The Swedish foreign minister said in 2017 in a statement about the troublesome development with parties and news outlets being banned that Sweden would have to look in to adjusting its efforts accordingly and then in late 2020 it was announced that the embassy were to be closed. Decisions like this can take a few years to push through so its hard for me not to link the statement to the decision.

Of course there are many factors that are in play but i would dare to say that was the last straw in combination with other statements made against the EU which showed that Cambodia were not willing to work together with or agree with terms set by their democratic donors. Somewhere you got to draw the line.

Cambodia Loses Swedish Embassy Section Office but Keeps Consular Services

Cambodia Loses Swedish Embassy Section Office but Keeps Consular Services

Re: Cambodia Loses Swedish Embassy Section Office but Keeps Consular Services

Re: Cambodia Loses Swedish Embassy Section Office but Keeps Consular Services

Re: Cambodia Loses Swedish Embassy Section Office but Keeps Consular Services

Re: Cambodia Loses Swedish Embassy Section Office but Keeps Consular Services

Re: Cambodia Loses Swedish Embassy Section Office but Keeps Consular Services

Re: Cambodia Loses Swedish Embassy Section Office but Keeps Consular Services

Re: Cambodia Loses Swedish Embassy Section Office but Keeps Consular Services

Re: Cambodia Loses Swedish Embassy Section Office but Keeps Consular Services

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