Swedish Consulate to Open in Kaliningrad Region in 2003

A Swedish consulate will open in Kaliningrad in the early part of next year. This was announced by Eric Hammersheld, a representative of the Swedish Foreign Ministry, who met with First Deputy Governor of the Kaliningrad Region Mikhail Tsikel in Kaliningrad yesterday.

Mr Hammersheld said that the decision to open the Swedish consulate had been reached at the end of August. The aim of his current visit is to get to know the region and choose the best location for the consulate.

One of the most important functions of the consulate will be to provide visas for those living in the Kaliningrad region to travel across countries within the Schengen zone. Sweden will be the first member of the EU to open a consulate in the Kaliningrad Region.