MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom's planned speech at the Arab League summit in Cairo on Monday was blocked by Saudi Arabia over Sweden's criticism of Riyadh's human rights record, Wallstrom said.
The minister was invited to the meeting as a guest of honor by Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Araby. However, Swedish media reported earlier on Monday that Wallstrom's speech had been canceled.
"I had been looking forward to speak. I came well prepared at the invitation of the Arab League. I think, of course, that this has put the Arab League in a very difficult situation because it means that a country can block an event of this kind," Swedish top diplomat Wallstrom told Sveriges Radio.
Sweden has repeatedly voiced its concern over human rights issues in Saudi Arabia, and condemned the arrest of blogger Raif Badawi, who was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment and 1,000 lashes for allegedly insulting Islam.
