United Arab Emirates recalls envoy to Sweden
March 19, 2015
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates has recalled its ambassador to Sweden, a Swedish government source with knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday, a week after Saudi Arabia took the same step. The moves by the two Gulf Arab states reflect growing tension with Stockholm after Sweden’s Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom called Saudi Arabia a dictatorship last month and denounced its treatment of women and the flogging of human rights activist and blogger Raif Badawi. Sweden last week also cancelled a long-standing defence cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia. That followed Saudi Arabia’s decision to block a speech due to be given by Wallstrom to the Arab League this week. The United Arab Emirates state news agency WAM confirmed that the UAE had recalled its envoy.